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Hera included in the FTSE MIB

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18/03/2019
Hera included in the FTSE MIB

As of today, Monday 18 March, the multi-utility is part of the index comprising the 40 largest companies listed on the Italian stock exchange

Hera has been included, as of today, Monday 18 March, in the FTSE MIB, the main index of Borsa Italiana, which comprises the 40 largest stocks listed on the Italian stock exchange in terms of capitalisation, liquidity and trading volume.

Hera, one of Italy's leading multi-utilities, has become part of this index based on the amount of free-float capitalisation and the value of shares traded over the last six months (+52% compared to the 2018 average).

This achievement was made possible by Hera's path of uninterrupted growth, which began 16 years ago and is based on a multi-business model that combines internal and external growth and shows a mix of activities offering resilience towards the main macro-variables seen in its reference scenario.

The new Business plan to 2022 shows further prospects for growth in Ebitda (+200 million euro in the period from 2018 to 2022), sustained by 3.1 billion in investments (of which 1.1 going towards development). Increases in cash generation will also ensure the Group's ability to maintain its financial soundness (with the 2022 target for the net debt/Ebitda ratio coming to 2.9).

The Plan also confirms the importance of creating value for shareholders, with a dividend policy aimed at paying 11 cents per share in 2022 (compared to the 9.5 cents paid in 2018).

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Asset Publisher

14/05/2024

Hera Group BoD approves results for 1Q 2024

The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March shows improvement in the main operating and financial indicators

30/04/2024

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

26/03/2024

Hera Group approves results as at 31/12/2023

The year closed with main financial indicators rising and the targets included in the strategic Plan to 2026 exceeded three years ahead of schedule

04/03/2024

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.

04/03/2024

Hera Group and Panasonic Industry together for the diffusion of NexMeter on the national market

The Japanese electronics leader collaborates with the multi-utility to distribute the NexMeter 4.0 gas meter, with advanced features in the field of measurement

06/02/2024

Over 1 million new electricity customers as of 1 July

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

25/01/2024

Hera Group expands in the industrial waste sector with TRS Ecology

With the acquisition of 70% of the Piacenza-based company, the Group reinforces its leadership in the waste management sector

24/01/2024

Hera Group presents Business Plan to 2027

Development, resilience and creating shared value for stakeholders are at the heart of the Group’s new strategic document, which foresees investments totalling 4.4 billion to speed up the ecological transition and enhance asset resilience to climate change

18/01/2024

Top Employer for the 15th Consecutive Year

Once again in 2024, we confirm our position among the best performers in human resources management, thanks to substantial investments in welfare, training, and skill development

09/12/2023

In the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the fourth year straight

Once again recognizing decades-long strategy for long-term value creation for shareholders and for all stakeholders

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01/03/2019

From 1 March, the energy activities of CMV Servizi and CMV Energia e Impianti go to Hera Group

ATR-CMV_110 Following the approval of the related Shareholders' Meetings on 20 December, the transaction was formalized today which provides for the integration of the energy activities of CMV Servizi, including the subsidiary A Tutta Rete (ATR), and CMV Energia e Impianti in the Group Hera, respectively in Inrete Distribuzione Energia with regard to natural gas distribution activities and in Hera Comm for energy sales activities. The integration into the Hera Group, operational since 1 March 2019, involves around 30,000 redelivery points (26,500 in the Ferrara area and over 3,100 in the Bologna area) for the distribution of natural gas and about 25,000 customers (21,300 gas and 3,500 electricity), who will receive a bill communication to welcome them and explain all the news. In particular, the Customer Service number 800.688.690 will remain active for energy CMV customers and the current branches will be maintained, including that of Viale Cavour in the recently renovated Ferrara city center, already integrated with the services of the Hera Group. From March 1, those who connect to the CMV website will be automatically redirected to the new dedicated pages. In addition to maintaining the territorial safeguards and the current personnel employed in the two branches of activity of CMV Servizi and CMV Energia e Impianti, with convergence with respect to the other activities of the multi-utility in the same territory, the Hera Group solutions and policies will be applied, for the benefit of of the quality and innovation of the service dedicated to customers. ATR-CMV_870 20190226_From_1_March_the_energy_activities_of_CMV_Servizi_and_CMV_Energia_e_Impianti_go_to_Hera_Group.1564137027.pdf 2019-07-26 ATR_CMV_870.1551343799.1564137025.png Last formal step for the integration between the natural gas distribution activities of Inrete and CMV Servizi and between the energy sales activities of Hera Comm and CMV Energia e Impianti. CMV's energy customers will receive a dedicated communication with all the news on their bills Read more ATR-CMV_110
01/03/2019

Energy activities of CMV Servizi and CMV Energia e Impianti to the Hera Group

ATR-CMV_110 Following the approval, on 20 December, by the associated shareholders' meetings, the transaction was formalised today which makes provision for the integration of the energy activities of CMV Servizi, including the subsidiary A Tutta Rete (ATR), and CMV Energia e Impianti in the Hera Group, respectively in Inrete Distribuzione Energia as regards natural gas distribution activities and in Hera Comm for energy sale activities. The integration in the Hera Group, operational from 1 March 2019, concerns around 30,000 redelivery points (26,500 in the Ferrara area and more than 3,100 in the Bologna area) for natural gas distribution and around 25,000 customers (21,300 gas and 3,500 electricity), who will receive a communication in their bill to welcome them and explain all the changes. In particular, for CMV energy customers, the customer service number 800.688.690 will remain active and the current branches will be retained, including that of Viale Cavour in the historical centre of Ferrara, recently renovated and already integrated with the services of the Hera Group. From 1 March, those who connect to the CMV website will automatically be redirected to the new dedicated pages. In addition to maintaining the regional coverage and current personnel employed in the two business units of CMV Servizi and CMV Energia e Impianti, with convergence with respect to the other activities of the multiutility in the same territory, the solutions and policies of the Hera Group will be applied, for the benefit of the quality and innovativeness of the service dedicated to customers. ATR-CMV_870 20190301_Energy_activities_of_CMV_Servizi_and_CMV_Energia_e_Impianti_to_the_Hera_Group.1563432305.pdf 2019-07-18 ATR_CMV_870.1551343799.1563432304.png The last formal step on today's date for the integration of the natural gas distribution activities of Inrete and CMV Servizi and the energy sale activities of Hera Comm and CMV Energia e Impianti. The energy customers of CMV will receive a special communication in their bill with all the updates ATR-CMV_110
01/03/2019

Hera always top for its ability to attract talents

Potentialpark_110 Just a few weeks after the Top Employers certification, the Hera Group is confirmed among the most "talent friendly" companies in Italy for the third consecutive year. This is proclaimed by the new Italian edition of the Online Talent Communication studio, created by the Swedish research company Potentialpark which, each year, compiles the classification of companies that, through on-line communication, are more attractive for candidates looking for work. In the 2019 edition of Potentialpark, the multiutility, in addition to joining the Top-Ten Italia, obtained an excellent position in three categories: first place in the ATS category, for the quality of the portal through which applications are managed; second place for the Mobile category, for the ease with which candidates can apply using a mobile phone/smartphone; third place in the category "Career Website", thanks to the constant improvements made to the "Working at Hera Group" section on the company website (www.gruppohera.it/gruppo/lavorare_gruppohera). Significant results attributable to the constant commitment shown by the Hera Group to creating, disseminating and personalising content and information on the policies regarding human resources in the different web communication tools: from the positions open to internship offers, to training courses or agreements with the universities. In fact, numerous activities were implemented in the field to make the application process easier and provide all the necessary information for understanding "life" at Hera. As regards social networks, the multiutility is recognised for its good strategy both in terms of promoting open positions and the content of the activities described, thanks to the growing interaction through the company page on LinkedIn, the professional platform par excellence, where Hera now has more than 46 thousand contacts, and the use of other channels, starting with Twitter. Potentialpark_870 20190301_CS_Potentialpark_Hera_DEF.1563432613.pdf 2019-07-18 Potentialpark_870.1551441116.1563432612.png For the third consecutive year, the multiutility is awarded by major Swedish research company Potentialpark for being the most "talent friendly" company in on-line communication targeted at young new graduates looking for employment. An award received just a few weeks after the prestigious Top Employers certification for the job conditions offered to employees Potentialpark_110
21/02/2019

Top Utility 2019: Hera in first place for communication

toputility_110 The Hera Group focuses on communication to create a direct relationship and open dialogue with the local area in which it operates. A commitment that saw it achieve first place in the "Communication" category of the seventh edition of the Top Utility award which, each year, analyses and enhances the evolution and performance of the top 100 Italian utility companies. The award ceremony was held today in Milan, during the Top Utility Analysis convention entitled "Utilities, the driver of sustainable growth". Quality and transparency: Top Utility rewards Hera communication "Capacity to establish relationships with all stakeholders and listen to the numerous requests from the communities in which it operates, as well as a high level of administrative transparency": these are the factors that have made the difference for the members of the Scientific Community (lecturers and researchers at the most important Italian universities) who chose to give the award to Hera. In particular, indicators relating to the quality of the website, transparency and exhaustiveness of financial, institutional and environmental communications were used for the evaluation. But also the quality of communication with customers and the various stakeholders. The recognition this year for communication is a repeat of the one obtained in the same area in 2014 and augments the Top Utility Assoluto award received in 2012 and the Top Utility Sostenibilità award in 2015 and 2018. The website, apps and social channels: Hera close to citizens An always updated and highly interactive website, with dedicated on-line services for customers, plus numerous channels for dialogue with citizens and operating support for services, including social and the app. "My Hera", an extremely valuable application that Hera Group customers can use to manage their utilities; but also "Rifiutologo" and l'"Acquologo", which turn smartphones and tablets into digital assistants for separate waste collection and water services: these are some of the strong points of communication that have brought the multiutility to the summit of the Top Utility classification. Not only these, numerous initiatives constantly implemented in the field to spread awareness of the economic and sustainability data. Together with multiple editorial activities to inform citizens about particularly important themes, an example of which are the annual reports on the themes of water, energy, waste and initiatives for citizens and customers. toputility_870 20190221_CSpremioTopUtility_DEF.1563431901.pdf 2019-07-18 Read more top_utility_870.1550754098.1563431900.png The prize was given today in Milan at the seventh edition of the award, which analyses and enhances the performances of the most important public service companies in the country http://www.toputility.it/ https://twitter.com/GruppoHera https://www.instagram.com/gruppohera/ Visit Top Utility website Visit Hera Group Twitter profile Visit Hera Group Instagram profile toputility_110
15/02/2019

Hera: energy efficiency in the home

valuetoenergy_110 Giving "Value to energy", because the advantageous effects of the circular economy model are actually visible in energy savings. And this is one of the objectives of the Hera Group which, on Monday 18 February, celebrates International Energy Efficiency Day. An imperative that is also the title of the sustainability report in which the Hera Group details the results obtained over the last eleven years on the energy efficiency front. Now in its fourth edition, the report - verified by an independent certification body - analyses all the aspects which embody the multiutility's commitment to energy savings and efficient energy use, focusing on environmental and economic sustainability and to the interests of the local areas and more than 4 million customers. Decarbonisation is actually crucial for tackling climate change. Both the multiutility's energy efficiency initiatives and the other projects for promoting the production of renewable energy are implemented with this in mind.The Hera Group also contributes to 6% of the national white certificates target, by incentivising energy efficiency and financing projects with measurable and certified savings. The figures are telling: 507 projects have been implemented in the field by the Group over the last 11 years to save energy (of which 133 in companies in the local area), with 753 thousand toe (tonnes of oil equivalent) saved, corresponding to annual consumption of 529 thousand households, and 1.4 million tonnes of avoided CO2, equivalent to approximately one million less cars in circulation (with 10,000 km of travel). In order to reach these energy efficiency objectives, Hera therefore makes all its know-how available to local companies, by supporting them in carrying out energy analyses, with the objective of encouraging the implementation of energy efficiency initiatives. In the Bologna area alone, the last two projects, which concerned the construction and management of a new technology-energy hub for a company which produces bioplastics and a new cooling plant for a well-known company that produces salami and cold pork meat, generated a total energy saving of 413 toe per year. The confirmation of the multiutility's general objective of cutting its energy consumption by 5% by 2020 (with respect to 2013 consumption) should also be emphasised, following the increase from 3% to 5% which occurred last year. These initiatives generated a saving of over Euro 8 million, of which Euro 4.5 million relating to the water service, with subsequent benefits on citizens' bills. The results have been made possible by integrated efficiency programmes, implemented in the field continuously by the Hera Group, first and foremost within its plants and offices and which, in 2017 alone, enabled the company to improve the heating energy efficiency index of its premises by 6.3%. As regards plants, an important example is on show in the water sector, in which Hera implemented 115 efficiency initiatives, for a total of 2,876 toe saved. Significant efforts were expended in the public lighting sector, in which Hera manages more than 518 thousand lighting points scattered throughout Italy, 71% low consumption and 51% with consumption optimisation, augmented by 65% of traffic lights with led lights. Stratagems which, in 2017, contributed to an energy saving of 10.2%. valuetoenergy_870 20190215_CS_Hera_per_la_giornata_internazionale_dell_efficienza_energetica_BO_DEF.1563431443.pdf 2019-07-18 Read more value_to_energy_870.1563431442.jpg Over 11 years, with 507 projects, with a saving of 753 thousand toe (tonnes of oil equivalent), equal to annual consumption of 529 thousand households and benefits in terms of tackling climate change. The multiutility looks to 2020, aiming to reduce consumption by 5%. All the available data in the Value to Energy report, dedicated to the Hera Group's commitment to energy efficiency valuetoenergy_110
01/02/2019

Hera Group presents Carlo Valsecchi Gasometer M.A.N. 3

Valsecchi_110 The Hera Group promotes the project by Carlo Valsecchi, which from February 1 to March 31, 2019 exhibits fourteen photographs of the Gasometer M.A.N. #3 at the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna. The photographs by Carlo Valsecchi tell in a completely new and original way the metamorphosis of the gasometer during the reclamation and restoration works promoted by the same multi-utility. Outside of any archaeological intent, Valsecchi's work presents the structure of the gasometer as a living organism in continuous transformation and not as inert testimony of an industrial past. The project, in addition to the free exhibition, is accompanied by a volume edited by Luca Massimo Barbero, published by Silvana Editoriale. Carlo Valsecchi's work stems from a continuous and direct dialogue with the places he faces in his projects from time to time, be they architecture, an urban landscape, heavy industry, high-tech industry, or natural infinity. The analogical and geometric-analytical approach to large-format photography - a medium that distinguishes the entire production of Valsecchi - leads him to break down and recompose the subject to return it in a completely new form. "We wanted this exhibition - comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group - to bring out the distinctive element of our recovery intervention, which goes beyond a merely conservative dimension and gives the city a structure capable of actively interacting with the his physical and emotional landscape: an important artist like Carlo Valsecchi - continues Tommasi - thanks to his experience at international level, he was able to fully grasp this aspect, allowing us to represent also through art the spirit with which we put ourselves daily at the service of our reference territories ". [block]div:row-fluid::db:hr_press_comunicazione::box:117[/block] Valsecchi_870 2019-07-23 mostra_valsecchi_870x.1547559528.1563890557.jpg The exhibition will be open for free from February 1 to March 31 2019 at the Pinacoteca Nazionale of Bologna Valsecchi_110
31/01/2019

Hera is a "Top Employer" for the tenth time

The Hera Group firmly holds its place among the companies that set themselves apart for their commitment to providing the best working conditions for their employees and for implementing best practices focused on the development and well-being of its people. It was certified by the Dutch organisation Top Employers Institute which, since 1991, has been carrying out research focused on quality standards in terms of human resources management. Moreover, with this year's achievement, Hera has achieved ten consecutive Top Employers certifications: a factor that further enhances the value of the recognition and confirms the Group's ongoing focus on the development and continuous improvement of its strategies in this field. For the Dutch institute, in fact, what qualifies Hera for certification are "the working conditions offered to employees and the ability to develop a human resources strategy focused on putting people first". Top Employers is one of the most prestigious international awards. Its selection and certification process requires in-depth data surveys and validation. The parameters the Institute analyses include: investment in learning and development, corporate welfare and on-boarding, career and succession management, talent strategy, corporate culture and the working environment. The level required for each of them is very high, which makes access to certification very challenging. Hera's best practices include: Hextra, the integrated corporate welfare plan for the Group's almost 9,000 employees, in which workers can "customise" a quota of economic resources according to his or her needs, as well as the possibility of converting part of one's performance bonus into an additional welfare quota; work-life balance measures and initiatives to raise awareness on health, safety and well-being issues. Also, Hera Group's commitment to equal opportunity and the appreciation of diversity is paramount. Hera is once again among the leading Italian companies that invest in the personal and professional development of its employees, with 29 hours of training per capita per year, well above the national average for multi-utilities. Heracademy, the corporate university that facilitates the Group's interaction with companies and the main public local organisations, has played a pivotal role in this context. It has also provided targeted training opportunities, such as workshops focused on the macrotrends of business and society. Not to mention the significant investments to increase organisational agility and to develop digital skills. Hera has also implemented many projects thanks to partnerships with important local and national companies, focussing on innovation and circular economy. The new generations are also at the heart of Hera's commitments, to train tomorrow's employees today and pass on the Group's values and mission. An example is the ever-increasing number of joint school-work experiences that Hera has organised, based on adding business skills to those acquired in secondary schools, which starting this year will also take place in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions. In addition, the focus on sustainability and generating shared value remains strong, as reflected by Hera's participation in the network of companies involved in the "Insieme per il Lavoro" [Together for Work] project, in which the Group engaged in implementing horizontal cooperation, training and mentoring practices to help people in need or scarcely independent and seeking employment. "To receive the Top Employers certification for the tenth consecutive year makes us particularly proud because it acknowledges our commitment in the field of training and investments directed to the well-being of our workers, our primary resource - declared Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of Hera. Moreover, it confirms our front-line involvement on behalf of the new generations, to whom we try to hand down the distinctive values of our corporate culture: integrity, transparency, personal accountability and continuous improvement". Top employer 2019 20190131_comunicato_Top_Employers_2019_EN_DEF.1549895226.pdf 2019-01-10 top_employer_2019_870x320.1548921797-2.png Innovative human resource strategies, excellent working conditions, initiatives for personal and professional development for the entire company and the new generations: this is how Hera achieved the prestigious certification for the tenth consecutive year. https://www.top-employers.com/it/ Go to the Top Employer site centrata top_employer_2019_110x150.1549895228.png
28/01/2019

Hera Group presents Carlo Valsecchi Gasometro M.A.N. n.3

Hera Group - Business Plan to 2022 The Hera Group is promoting Carlo Valsecchi's "Gasometro M.A.N. n.3" project, on display from 1 February to 31 March 2019 at the Pinacoteca Nazionale of Bologna in the Salone degli Incamminati. In an entirely new and original view, Carlo Valsecchi’s fourteen photographs tell the story of the iconic gas holder’s metamorphosis throughout the reclamation and restoration works sponsored by the multiutility. Far from any archaeological intent, Valsecchi's work presents the gasometer’s structure as a living organism in continuous transformation and not as an inert testament to an industrial past. In addition to the free exhibition, the project is complemented by a publication curated by Luca Massimo Barbero, published by Silvana Editoriale. Carlo Valsecchi's work stems from a continuous and direct dialogue with the places he encounters from time to time in his projects, whether they be architecture, an urban landscape, heavy industry, highly technological industry, or the infinity of nature. His analogical and geometric-analytical approach to large-format photography - a medium that distinguishes all of Valsecchi's production - leads him to break down and recompose subjects, to bring them back to life with a completely new appearance. “With this exhibition - comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive President of the Hera Group - we wanted to draw attention to the distinctive element of our recovery operation, which goes beyond its merely conservatory aspect and gives the city a structure capable of actively interacting with its physical and emotional landscape. An important artist like Carlo Valsecchi - continues Tommasi - thanks also to his experience at an international level, has been able to grasp this aspect in depth, allowing us to represent through art the spirit with which we put ourselves daily at the service of our territories of reference”. The project is part of ART CITY Bologna. Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna Sala degli Incamminati via Belle Arti 56, Bologna Open to the public from 1 FEBRUARY to 31 MARCH 2019 from Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Free admission Saturday 2 February special opening until 11.00 p.m. for the ART CITY White Night event The poster of the Gasometro M.A.N. n.3 exhibition (2525 Kb - PDF) Carlo Valsecchi – BIOGRAPHY Carlo Valsecchi was born in Brescia in 1965. He lives and works in Milan. In 1992 his work was selected for the Venice Architecture Biennale exhibition, and he later held exhibitions in Italy and abroad. He has exhibited his photographs in galleries, public and private institutions and events around the world, including the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, New York (1999); Fondazione Peggy Guggenheim, Venice (2000); Galerie 213, Paris (2001); Studio Casoli, Milan (2001); Semaines européennes de l’image – Le bâti, le vivant, Luxembourg (2002); GAMeC, Bergamo (2003); Guido Costa project, Turin (2006); Triennale di Milano (2006); Paris Photo, Statements, Paris (2007); Kunstforum, Vienna (2009); Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne (2009); Walter Keller Gallery, Zurich (2009); Galleria Carla Sozzani, Milan (2011). His exhibitions also include: San Luis, MaRT – Museo d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto, Rovereto (2011); the 54th Mostra internazionale di arti visive of the Venice Biennale, Italy Pavillion, Norman Foster selection, Venice (2011); Subverted, Ivorypress, Madrid (2012); Landmark: the Fields of Photography, Somerset House, London (2013); Mare Nostrum, Walter Keller Gallery, Zurich (2013); Museo della Merda, Piacenza (2015); Industria, oggi, MAST Foundation, Bologna (2015); No Man Nature, Palazzo Da Mosto, Fotografia europea, Effetto Terra, Reggio Emilia (2015); Fotografie dell’Emilia-Romagna al lavoro, MAST Foundation, Bologna (2016); Sviluppare il Futuro, Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini, Biennale di Fotografia dell’Industria e del Lavoro, Bologna (2017); Civilization: the way we live now, MMCA Seoul, South Korea (2018). In 2010, the book Lumen (Hatje Cantz, 2009) was given the silver award at the Deutscher Fotobuchpreis, the German photo book award of the year. Bologna's Gasometer - HISTORY The "Gasometro Man n. 3" has characterised Bologna's skyline for almost a century. It is located inside the headquarters of the Hera Group, one of the largest Italian multiutilities, that provides waste management, water and energy services. In operation since 1930, it was used until 1984 to store gas used in the city. It is 52 meters high with a diameter of 30 and is considered a jewel of industrial architecture in the heart of the capital of Emilia. It was built using the so-called "dry" construction method, at the time very widespread abroad but not yet tested in Italy. The gasometer consists of a 16-sided prismatic sheet metal casing that rests on a concrete base. An iron cap with a ventilation dome covers its top. Outside, three walkways are linked to each other by a staircase that wraps around the building. The last coal distillation furnace was shut down on 7 October 1960 and for a few years gasometers were used to store the new methane-based natural gas. In the 1980s, with the introduction of new storage facilities, the gasometer was definitively decommissioned. By restoring it, the Hera Group has made it the absolute protagonist of its headquarters area, which was recently inaugurated after major modernisation and redevelopment works. 2019-01-10 From 01/02/2019 to 31/03/2019 Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (the national art gallery of Bologna), V. Belle Arti 56 Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. Hera Group - Business Plan to 2022
10/01/2019

Hera Group approves Business Plan to 2022

Hera Group - Business Plan to 2022 Operating and financial highlights 2022 Ebitda: 1,185 million euro (+200 million over 2017 Ebitda) Overall industrial and financial investments: over 3.1 billion euro (+9% over the investments foreseen by the previous Business Plan) Net debt/Ebitda ratio to remain below 3 Further increases expected in dividends, reaching 11 cents per share in 2022 (+16% over the last dividend paid) Business highlights Business strategy once again based on 5 priorities: growth, efficiency, excellence, innovation and agility, all reworked and enhanced to meet the challenges involved in Ecosystems, Circularity and Technology Development driven by a balanced mix of internal and external (M&A) growth Confirmation of tenders currently awarded for gas distribution and urban waste management Goal of reaching over 3 million energy customers by 2022, thanks to leadership in last resort services, the end of the protected market and actions taken towards commercial growth Shared Value coming to over 470 million euro Preliminary consolidated 2018 Ebitda at roughly 1,020 million and a plan geared towards growth This morning the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, which met to discuss the Business Plan to 2022, also examined the forecast of consolidated results for 2018, with year-end Ebitda reaching 1.02 billion euro, up 3.6% over the 984.6 million seen at 31 December 2017 and higher than expected by the previous business plan. The net debt/Ebitda ratio settled at roughly 2.54x, in line with the previous year. On the solid basis of this achievement and the results previously reached, which reflect an uninterrupted path of growth lasting 16 years, the Board approved the new Plan to 2022, which shows a strong commitment towards the Group’s further development in the industry, in spite of an increasingly complex scenario. A deeply changing scenario The macro-economic scenario now appears to be less favourable than in the past (with interest rates rising and an economic outlook less positive than during the previous year), and yet this should not significantly influence the Group’s prospects, thanks to the breakdown of its service portfolio, the changes introduced in its business models in recent years and its large degree of regulated activities. The upcoming years will witness many important events, perhaps most decisively the process, already underway, involving tenders in gas distribution, which is expected to lead to a significant rationalisation in the number of operators. In the waste collection sector as well, the five years covered by the Plan are expected to see the beginning of tenders for service concessions that have already expired or will do so in the near future. Regulatory changes for customer segments in protected services are also foreseen, intended to promote an additional increase in the added value of services offered and higher competition on the marketplace. Mention must also go to continued progress towards consolidation in multi-utility sectors, energy sales and waste treatment services, which are still among the most fragmentary in Europe. Investments amounting to over 3.1 billion euro, financial solidity confirmed In light of the opportunities offered by the scenario, the new Plan to 2022 foresees investments coming to over 3.1 billion euro, up roughly 260 million over the previous strategic document. Three quarters of these investments will be concentrated in regulated activities: approximately 70% will continue to be dedicated to the network system and roughly 6% to urban waste collection. Significant interventions in infrastructure modernisation and development will be deployed, confirming the Group’s commitment to investing in its reference areas and thus offering increasingly innovative, resilient and high-quality services. Investments intended for tenders for gas distribution have thus been confirmed, in order to maintain the major tenders currently managed. Overall, considering the expansion in plants, gas tenders and M&As, roughly 1.1 billion in investments will be dedicated to supporting development in these activities over the next five years. This investment plan is financially sustainable thanks to an increasing cash generation, able to cover investments and pay dividends. The ratio between net financial debt and Ebitda is expected to settle at 2.9 by 2022, in line with the figure seen in the previous plan. Without including the effect of tenders, financial balance will remain similar to the present, guaranteeing sufficient leeway to be able to grasp any possible opportunities for growth not included in the Plan, without harming the Group’s financial solidity. A strategy aimed at grasping opportunities, with a focus on Shared Value as an additional source of competitive advantages The Group’s strategy is focused on Ecosystems, Circularity and Technology, achieved by activating its time-tested principles of efficiency, excellence, growth, innovation and agility, in addition to creating coherent projects that guarantee the full implementation of the Business Plan. Always giving close attention to issues regarding sustainability, the Group has recently defined some lines of development intended to pursue the goals on the UN Agenda which apply to the activities carried out by this multi-utility (covering at least 10 of the 17 goals indicated). Almost 3/4 of the growth expected over the five years covered by the Plan will thus be sustained by projects introduced in order to respond to this “call to action”, thus bringing the amount of shared value Ebitda to exceed 470 million euro by 2022 (corresponding to 40% of overall Ebitda). Ebitda targets growing, balanced among the various business areas, between regulated and free market activities and between internal and external growth Matching the investments implemented over the next five years, 2022 Ebitda is expected to reach 1,185 million euro, with an over 200 million increase compared to the 984.6 million recorded in 2017 and with an average annual increase of roughly 40 million over the period of time covered by the Plan. All areas of activity (networks, waste management, energy and other services such as telecommunications and public lighting) will contribute to this growth, with the Group’s usual balance between income from regulated and free market activities, as well as between internal and external growth. Thanks to higher levels of efficiency and ever more substantial investments, the overall contribution to the increase in Ebitda coming from internal growth is expected to reach 120 million over the period of time covered by the Plan (130 million, taking into account 10 million due to lower incentives), while an 80 million increase in Ebitda is expected from external growth. These goals are in line with the five-year growth of the previous Plan and that benefit from the already consolidated outperformance linked to the trends seen in 2018 and the outcome of tenders for last resort markets, in which Hera has become the leader in all segments. Value for shareholders to increase, with a bold dividend policy The Plan confirms the Group’s attention towards the creation of value and transparency in dividend policies, which have become more challenging than in the past and compared to the content of the previous Business Plan. The dividend established, which had already risen to 9.5 cents per share in 2017, will indeed reach 10 cents per share in 2018 and 2019, 10.5 in 2020 and 2021 and 11 in 2022 (+16% over the most recent dividend payment), with a 0.5 cent increase every 2 years. Networks: efficiency and resilience intended to tackle climate change; innovation and excellence to become a leading figure in a smart economy Most of the growth foreseen by the Plan is expected to come from the networks area: Ebitda related to electricity and gas distribution, the water cycle and district heating will increase from the 424 million euro seen in 2017 to 581 million in 2022, thus making up roughly half of the Group’s overall Ebitda. Many initiatives have been introduced to make networks increasingly “smart”, boosting their efficiency, circularity and resilience as well as contributing to their ability to meet the growing challenges coming from climate change and the environment. These projects include a large-scale installation of “smart” meters, understood as factors able to promote the evolution towards smart cities. One example lies in the new and evolved functions shown by the last-generation gas meters developed by the Group in a partnership with Panasonic, which will allow the service to be constantly monitored and increase safety in case of leaks, earthquakes or network disruptions. In electricity distribution, network upgrading is expected to benefit the continuity of this service, by constructing new primary transformer rooms and carrying out targeted interventions on secondary transformer rooms, also involving network automation and digitalisation to support on-field interventions by personnel. District heating will play a significant role in decarbonising the area, since over 70% of the heat produced over the duration of the Plan will be generated from renewable and comparable sources. As regards the gas area, an opportunity for expansion lies in the tenders to be awarded for grants in gas services; after countless postponements, this should take place within 2022, beginning as of the current year, in all geographical areas in which the contracting authorities have already defined the networks’ VIR (residual industrial value). In this sector, the Hera Group aims at growth mainly by confirming the areas already served, thanks to investments amounting to roughly 470 million. In the water area, lastly, the focus will go to protecting this resource, by upgrading the search for leakage and developing the districtualization of the network, also including innovative projects in water management to promote, both inside and outside the company, increasing sustainability and awareness regarding the use of water. Special attention will go to the reuse of purified water, already implemented with excellent results in the Bologna area and currently being extended to other zones. Consolidating leadership in the waste management sector, by enhancing resource protection and maximising reuse Ebitda in the waste management area is expected to grow from the 246 million euro seen in 2017 to almost 300 million in 2022. The goal set for this area is to be confirmed at the forefront as an operator in the integrated waste cycle, offering concrete solutions for businesses and citizens. Protecting environmental resources will remain a top goal, as will maximising their reuse. Special attention will continue to go to promoting sorted waste, expected to rise from 57.7% in 2017 to over 73% in 2022 and to see qualitative improvement as well, through specific communication campaigns and initiatives designed to get citizens involved. Unit pricing should provide citizens with an incentive to improve the quality of their sorted waste as well, as has been demonstrated by the excellent results, exceeding expectations, reached in a few municipalities where it has already been introduced (attaining over 85% of SW in a local capital such as Ferrara and peaks of close to or over 90% in some municipalities in the Modena area). In waste treatment and recovery, the Herambiente Group will be able to consolidate its national leadership by offering complete and integrated commercial packages. The latter consist in solutions for large industrial clients, including waste and energy services as well as purification and through an avant-garde group of plants able to offer solutions supporting a circular economy. These range from the biomethane production plant recently opened in the Bologna area, to reinforcing Aliplast’s outstanding capabilities in plastic recycling, creating new business opportunities, and lastly launching important partnerships, such as the ones with Eni in biofuel and Bio-on in developing new natural and 100% biodegradable plastic materials. Collecting and analysing data coming from on-field infrastructures (bins, vehicles, etc.) and WTE plants will allow all activities to be optimised, automating processes and reducing costs. Energy: over 3 million customers, thanks to customer experience and new “sustainable” solutions Ebitda for the energy area will settle at 268 million in 2022, showing a slight growth over the objective set in the previous strategic document. The challenging goal the Group has set for itself is to reach over 3 million customers by the end of the period covered by the Plan, confirming its place among the sector’s leaders with a more substantial and loyal customer base, thanks to positive results in customer experience and new solutions geared towards savings and respect for the environment. In addition to internal growth in the customer base and the hypothesis of additional development along the Adriatic coast, the Group can rely on an excellent result that saw it confirmed, in recent months, as a leading player in last resort services in the energy market. One significant opportunity to reinforce the customer base will come from the end of the protected market (i.e. maggior tutela), which according to Hera’s estimates will lead it to gain at least 500,000 customers. Commercial development will depend on offers bringing added value, from those in support of smart homes (smart thermostats, remote sensors, etc.) to combinations of insurance and maintenance products, or again services involving energy efficiency or electric mobility. The country’s objectives in energy efficiency themselves provide an opportunity to develop the Group’s energy services through its specialised companies, able to offer solutions tailored for public administrations, apartment buildings and industrial clients. The Group will furthermore give increasing attention to customer experience, turning to process and payment digitalisation to meet the needs of customers who are ever more “online”, as well as adopting efficient systems for data management and analysis, to guarantee an excellent service and accelerate the “time to market”. Applying behavioural science, combined with precise interventions (such as reporting consumption in bills), will lastly allow an increasingly efficient use of energy to be promoted. Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Hera Executive Chairman The growth we have foreseen over the duration of the Plan is entirely visible, considering our track record. Our investment program is significant, increasing by 260 million, and the rise in cash generation will allow the Net debt/Ebitda ratio to be maintained at 2.9x, as had been predicted for the end of the period covered by the previous plan. We have confirmed our strong attention towards creating value for shareholders and a transparent dividend payment policy, year by year. This solidity and visibility is also guaranteed by the prospects offered by the external scenario (M&As, protected services and gas tenders) and taken into account in the Plan, based on a conservative estimate which consists in maintaining current market shares. Stefano Venier, Hera CEO In a five-year period that will see a remarkable expansion in our plant facilities, a new phase is taking shape, with important events on the horizon in almost all our businesses. The Plan’s premise lies in affirming our leadership in services for our reference area and continuing in technological evolution, in order to persist in increasing regeneration in management models for activities and their resilience. Our risk/return tradeoff will improve thanks to a significant development in regulated activities, complemented by trends in free market activities. The Business Plan has been built around globally relevant issues, since we are perfectly aware of our role in enabling circular smart cities, but also the need to adequately respond to the new needs of our customers and the local ecosystem, brought about by digital evolution and environmental challenges. Business Plan to 2022 2019-01-10 870x320.1547131114 (1).jpg Based on solid forecast for 2018, which significantly exceeded the goal of one billion in Ebitda, this new strategic plan confirms the path of uninterrupted growth achieved by the Group since 2002. The focus on investments and innovation will guarantee a place at the forefront of its evolving services, further improving resilience and rising to the challenges of the sector. Efficiency and increased attention towards investment allocation, including a higher level of sustainability, will favour internal growth, with financial solidity fuelling external growth. /-/hera-group-approves-business-plan-to-2022-1 http://investornews.gruppohera.it/en/?n=58 /group_eng/investor-relations/hera-strategy/ Press release Newsletter: business plan to 2022 Strategy and Business Plan centrata Hera Group - Business Plan to 2022
17/12/2018

Clean energy for the Amadori production site in Cesena with the cogeneration plant built by the Hera Group

Cesena_110 The Hera Group, one of the largest Italian multi-utilities, has reached an agreement with Amadori, a leading group in the national agri-food sector and a specialist in the poultry sector, to build a cogeneration plant that will provide clean energy for the Cesena production site. An energy efficiency measure that will provide about 15% of primary energy savings with a high overall efficiency in terms of energy conversion, at 70%. Amadori signed the agreement with Hera Servizi Energia, Hera Group's energy service company of reference for the industrial sector, which over the years has built cogeneration production plants using the best technologies available on the market, so as to achieve not only noteworthy energy and economic savings but also major environmental benefits. This new plant, designed to serve Mangimificio Amadori, will be operated striving for optimization and efficiency, and will be supported by 24/7 remote management and control, and emergency services. The plant'score is a 900 kWe cogeneration plant that, thanks to special connections, will also be able to feed - as steam - several thermal users: to transform and process the feed, and to heat offices. This technological complex designed to serve Mangimificio Amadori, will supply electricity and thermal energy in the form of steam and hot water. Hera Servizi Energia will build, operate and maintain the plant, investing a total of over one million euro, under an agreement lasting10 years (or 60,000 hours of total operation of the cogenerator). With this plant Amadori will thus be able to improve the efficiency of its production cycles and positively impact the environment, in line - moreover - with Hera Group's long-standing focus on energy efficiency, which for some years now has been geared towards developing its businesses and those of its partners in line with the ambitious roadmap laid down by the UN's 2030 Agenda. When fully operational the energy complex will be able to provide excellent environmental performance, avoiding each year the consumption of about 400 toe and the emission of 900 tonnes of CO2, equal to the absorption capability of one year of a 150 hectare forest. An environmental benefit that can also be likened to more than 600 fewer diesel cars on the roads. Cesena_870 20181217_HSE_e_Amadori_final_rev_def.1564384756.pdf 2019-07-29 cesena_870x320.1545124289.1564384755.png The increase in the efficiency and sustainability of the production cycles will avoid the emission of about 900 tonnes of CO2 every year, the same "absorbing" power a forest of over 150 hectares has in the same period.The savings of about 15% in terms of primary energy is also significant, achieved thanks to high standards of overall performance of the plant Read more Cesena_110
10/12/2018

Bio-on and Hera create Lux-on the new challenge to produce bioplastic from CO₂

Bio-On-GH_110 Bio-on, a leader in the high quality bioplastic sector, and Hera Group, one of Italy's largest multi-utility providers, have reached an agreement to take 90% and 10% shares respectively (with the possibility of Hera increasing its share to 49.9%) in LUX-ON, the new company founded by Bio-on aiming to revolutionise the production of PHAs biopolymers using CO₂ captured from the atmosphere and producing energy without using fossil fuels. The new technology developed by Bio-on envisages using carbon dioxide as a zero cost "raw material", in addition to those already used to produce Bio-on bioplastic: sugar beet and sugar cane molasses, fruit and potato waste, carbohydrates, glycerol and waste frying oil. Using CO₂ will also help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The laboratories and first plant of the new Lux-on project will be built by the end of 2019 close to the Bio-on Plants industrial facility at Castel San Pietro Terme (Bologna). It will be designed entirely by Bio-on technicians in collaboration with Hera, with carbon capture plants and a production facility using renewable solar energy. The development of the technology will be aided by the fact that many of the principles and equipment used in the standard technology can also be used in Lux-on's new production systems. This is why the development and pre-industrial phase will be much faster than usual. The plant will occupy an area of 1,500 m2, 600 m2 of which is covered, and will have a flexible production capacity that is rapidly expandable. The electric energy used in Lux-on's innovative production process will be produced by photovoltaic systems which, aside from directly powering production, will also provide storable energy for nocturnal power (24/7 production). For energy storage, partnerships will be entered into with international experts in hydrogen (H) technology. Hydrogen, a nonpolluting gas, will be produced from solar energy, stored and then converted to electric energy to power the plant when the solar panels are not running, i.e. at night or when light levels are poor. Bio-On-GH_870 CS_69_BIO_ON_10_12_2018_final_E.1563287329.pdf 2019-07-16 Bio_On_GH_870.1563287261.png The Newco created by Bio-on will be owned by Hera Group Read more Bio-On-GH_110
07/12/2018

Herambiente awarded the reclamation of the port of Chioggia

Chioggia_110 To extensively reclaim Chioggia's port area and renovate the area to bring it back to life. This is the commitment of a temporary association of companies (ATI) led by Herambiente, a member of the Hera Group and the foremost Italian waste treatment operator, which was awarded a contract to renovate the strategic areas linked to this important seaport. The tender, worth 28.5 million euro, was launched by A.S.Po Azienda Speciale del Porto di Chioggia, owned by the Venice-Rovigo Chamber of Commerce. CGX Costruzioni Generali Xodo Srl, Idea Srl, and Rossi Renzo Costruzioni Srl, all companies in the Veneto region, are technical partners of the temporary association of companies. The contract, which kicks off the work, was signed this morning by Damaso Zanardo, president of A.S.Po, and Andrea Ramonda, the CEO of Herambiente. In particular, the work will begin in 2019 and lead to an overall renovation of some areas of the river-maritime terminal in Val da Rio di Chioggia. On the one hand, the operation will reclaim a 6-hectare area, used as a landfill for solid waste produced in the municipality of Chioggia from 1961 to 1984. This is a strategic intervention for the area because the contract, in line with the circular economy principles that the Hera Group is pursuing on several fronts, also involves recovering inert material amounting to 80% of the total waste, which will be used to build some of the docks in the port, thus increasing the operation's overall sustainability. By doing so, Herambiente will make available to this area all of its know-how in the field of land reclamation, a field in which the Hera Group company has consolidated experience and very high quality and safety standards. Its research, analyses, and projects enable the best possible definition of the scope of each measure. Herambiente's reclamation department, from this point of view, offers an integrated service that at every stage of the process ensures full respect for the environment, for current regulations and, indeed, for the fundamental circular economy principles. Chioggia_870 20181207_Herambiente_awarded_the_reclamation_of_the_port_of_Chioggia_def.1564384226.pdf 2019-07-29 chioggia_870.1564384158.jpg The tender, worth 28.5 million euro, was won by a temporary consortium led by Hera Group, the leading Italian waste treatment operator. The work will begin in 2019 and will lead to an overall renovation of the port area, with new docks using inert materials coming from the reclamation of land previously used as landfill Read more Hera
29/11/2018

The Hera Group wins the 2018 Budget Oscar

Oscar_bilancio_2018_110 The Hera Group has won the 2018 "Oscar di Bilancio" award. The 54th edition of the event promoted by Ferpi (Italian Public Relations Federation) to reward virtuous companies for their reporting activities, awarded Hera the prize in the category of "Medium-sized companies listed in the stock market segments FTSE MIB and FTSE ITALIA MID CAP" and, for the first time, a special mention in the new "Innovation in reporting" category. The ceremony was held in Milan, in the main auditorium of the Bocconi University, attended by its Rector Gianmario Verona. One of the strengths that convinced the Oscar's external commission to award Hera among the medium-sized listed companies was, in particular, the overall quality of its financial communication as a whole, both concerning the economic aspects of the content and its social dimension. The jury's motivation was, specifically, "strategy, well-defined objectives supported by the actions, full coverage of sustainability issues, excellent communication impact. Completeness of the statement both for its economic/financial part and for the other topics it covered. The data was also accompanied by an effective 'narrative'". The ability to measure shared value, as gross operating margin from business activities that respond to the drivers of the UN Agenda, as well as the innovative thematic sustainability reports that supplement the annual report were also particularly appreciated, as initiatives that earned Hera its ranking among the most avant-garde Italian companies, obtaining special mention in the new category. Oscar_bilancio_2018_870 20181129_Oscar_di_bilancio_rev_def.1564381357.pdf 2019-07-29 Oscar_bilancio_2018_870.1564381356.png The multi-utility wins the prize for the "Medium-sized listed companies" and a special mention for "Innovation in reporting". Award-winning strategy, completeness and effective storytelling in its reporting activities Read more Oscar_bilancio_2018_110
23/11/2018

Eni and Hera together for the circular economy: from spent vegetables oils the biofuel for waste collection vehicles

Eni-GH_110 Eni and Hera, companies long engaged in promoting a circular economy model through the continuous technological and organizational development of their respective businesses, have today signed a partnership aimed at transforming used vegetable oil into biofuel to fuel the Hera waste collection company vehicles. The agreement provides that exhausted vegetable oils for domestic use, such as those for frying, recovered by Hera through approximately 400 road containers and in about 120 collection centers, will be sent to the Eni biorefinery in Venice, in Porto Marghera, the world's first example of conversion of an oil refinery into a biorefinery, which will transform it into green diesel, a completely renewable product which constitutes 15% of Enidiesel +. The biofuel will feed the Hera company vehicles for the collection of urban waste. In the experimental phase Enidiesel + will be used by some thirty large vehicles, in order to optimize the environmental benefit, in the Modena area. The agreement signed today extends the virtuous circle already initiated by Eni with the multi-utility companies of Turin, Venice and Rome and whose tests have already demonstrated important benefits in terms of air quality, economic and industrial. In fact, compared to traditional diesel, Enidiesel + has a renewable component that reduces polluting emissions by up to 40%, saves fuel consumption by around 4% and reduces engine maintenance costs. The same technical improvement parameters deriving from the use of the biofuel will be subject to joint monitoring by the two companies, in collaboration with the CNR Institute of Motors. To further support the initiative, Hera has chosen to enhance the collection of vegetable oils by introducing 300 new dedicated containers in the areas served. In 2017 alone, 800 tons of waste vegetable oils were collected, recovered and then processed to be valued as lubricants or through energy recovery. An increasingly widespread service which, by encouraging correct recovery, also aims to prevent behavior, such as the spillage of oils in the sink, which is harmful to domestic pipes and water purification plants. Eni-GH_870 20181123_Eni_and_Hera_together_for_the_circular_economy.1563283220.pdf 2019-07-16 Eni_GH_870.1563283219.png The partnership will make it possible to transform the Eni bio-refinery in Venice into oils collected by Hera (800 tons in 2017) in Eni green diesel. Relevant environmental benefits with a reduction of up to 40% of polluting emissions Read more Eni-GH_110
12/11/2018

The Hera Group wins silver medal in online communication

Hera is still on the podium for web communication Hera Group manages to be very concrete in the presentation of its sustainability strategy and how it contributes to develop a sustainable business: in fact, it highlights commitments, objectives, data, projects and hard data. Download Whitepaper Italy listed 2018 Key information on webranking's survey 2018-11-12 Further informations infografica_webranking_eng.1542097295.png In the Webranking 2018 report on Italian digital communication conducted by Lundquist together with Comprend, the Hera Group comes in second, standing out for the presentation of its strategy, its business areas and sustainability objectives. Hera is still on the podium for web communication
08/11/2018

Hera BoD approves 3Q 2018 results

Hera BoD approves 3Q 2018 results Financial highlights Revenues at € 4,348.4 million (+8.0%) Ebitda at € 748.6 million (+3.3%) Net profits for Shareholders at € 208.7 million (+14.1%) Net debt at € 2,642.0 million Operating highlights Good contribution to growth coming from all businesses and gas in particular Good results achieved through internal growth Solid customer base in Energy (approximately 2.5 million), rising by approximately 100,000 over the first three quarters of 2017 Sorted waste increases to an average of 61.4% across all areas served Today, the Hera Group's Board of Directors unanimously approved the consolidated financial results at30 September 2018, which confirm the positive trend in operating results seen in previous quarters and show further improvement in financial and fiscal management. These results once again reward the Group's balanced and agile way of operating, following a business model that has always combined the strategic levers of internal and external growth. In addition to remarkable internal growth, partially deriving from higher efficiencies, developments in market shares and an increase in volumes sold in the energy sector both contributed to the accounts for the first three quarters of 2018. Revenues rise to € 4,348.4 million In the first nine months of 2018, revenues amounted to € 4,348.4 million, up 8% over the € 4,027.8 million seen at 30 September 2017, with a contribution coming from all business areas. In particular, trends in gas and electricity trading and sales benefitted from an increase in volumes. Ebitda increases to € 748.6 million The Group's consolidated Ebitda at 30 September 2018 grew from € 724.7 to € 748.6 million (+3.3%). This result is due to the good performance seen in all main activities, and the gas sector in particular, whose contribution included rising earnings derived from sales and trading. Positive results were also seen in the integrated water cycle and waste management areas. Ebit and pre-tax profits grow, owing in part to financial management Ebit grew to € 376.5 million, up compared to the € 357.9 seen at 30 September 2017 (+5.2%), while pre-tax profits rose to € 311.0 million, as against the € 283.5 seen at the same date in 2017 (+9.7%). This was due to financial management, which in the first nine months of 2018 improved by € 8.9 million compared to 30 September 2017, settling at € 65.5 million, with aperformance partly made possible by efficiency in rates and higher financial income for commercial activities. Net profits for Shareholders increase to € 208.7 million (+14.1%) Profits pertaining to Group Shareholders rose to € 208.7 million, compared to the € 182.9 million recorded at 30 September 2017 (+14.1%), for reasons including a tax rate coming to 30.1%, an improvement over the 32% seen in the same period of the previous year. The considerable investments made by the Group in Utility 4.0 projects allowed fiscal optimisation opportunities to be grasped, thanks to incentives for large and very large amortisations. Approximately € 300 million in investments, and an essentially stable financial position The Group's operating investments at 30 September 2018, including capital grants, amounted to € 296.6 million, up 7.0%over the same period in 2017 and in line with the content of the Business plan. Operating investments mainly concerned work done on plants, networks and infrastructures, in addition to regulatory upgrading, above all concerning gas distribution with a large-scale metre substitution, and the purification and sewerage activities. Net debt came to € 2,642.0 million at 30 September 2018, essentially stable compared to the € 2,610.0 million recorded after the first nine months of 2017, considering the dividends paid. Gas Ebitda for the gas business, which includes services in natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and heat management, reached € 222.2 million at 30 September 2018, up 10.3% over the same period one year earlier thanks to commercial development, higher intermediated volumes and higher revenues for distribution services. The number of gas customers came to 1.413 million in the first nine months of 2018, rising by 1.6% over the same period in 2017. This growth was caused by an expansion in market share and by the companies Blu Ranton and Verducci Servizi becoming part of the Group's consolidated scope. The gas business accounted for 29.7% of Group Ebitda. Water cycle Ebitda for the integrated water cycle, which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services, increased by 4.4%, going from € 178.3 million in September 2017 to € 186.2 million at 30 September 2018, thanks to higher revenues from dispensing, higher recognised costs and the efficiencies reached. The integrated water cycle accounted for 24.9% of Group Ebitda. Waste management The results for the waste management, which includes services in waste collection, treatment, recovery and disposal, also showed increasing figures, with Ebitda going from € 181.4 million at 30 September 2017 to € 188.2 million at the same date in 2018 (+3.7%). This trend was largely caused by changes in the prices set for waste treatment, along with increased results from Aliplast. Further growth was also seen in sorted waste, which went from 56.6% during the same period in 2017 to 61.4% at 30 September 2018, thanks to the numerous services offered. In the month of September, moreover, the Sant'Agata Bolognese biomethane production plant was launched, fully respecting the timing set out in the Business plan. The waste management area accounted for 25.1% of Group Ebitda. Electricity Ebitda for the electricity business, which includes services in electricity generation, distribution and sales, went from € 147.4 million in the first nine months of 2017 to € 133.2 million at 30 September 2018. Sales and trading results benefitted from a higher amount of intermediated volumes (+15.5%) and the enlarged customer base (+7.8%, reaching 1.039 million), thanks to increased market shares and a wider scope of operations. This result partially offset the effect coming from a few suspended generation plants, which became fully functional once again in the third quarter. The electricity business accounted for 17.8% of Group Ebitda 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 third-quarter management report and related materials are available to the public at Company Headquarters and on the website www.gruppohera.it. Unaudited extracts from the Intermediate Management Report at 30 September 2017 are attached. PROFIT & LOSS (M€) 30/09/2018 INC% 30/09/2017 INC.% CH. CH. % Sales 4,348.4 4,027.8 +320.6 +8.0% Other operating revenues 321.1 7.4% 327.3 8.1% -6.2 -1.9% Raw material (1,966.6) -45.2% (1,776.4) -44.1% +190.2 +10.7% Services costs (1,529.2) -35.2% (1,428.6) -35.5% +100.6 +7.0% Other operating expenses (42.9) -1.0% (45.3) -1.1% -2.4 -5.3% Personnel costs (410.1) -9.4% (409.1) -10.2% +1.0 +0.2% Capitalisations 28.0 0.6% 29.1 0.7% -1.1 -3.8% Ebitda 748.6 17.2% 724.7 18.0% +23.9 +3.3% Depreciation and provisions (372.2) -8.6% (366.8) -9.1% +5.4 +1.5% Ebit 376.5 8.7% 357.9 8.9% +18.6 +5.2% Financial inc./(exp.) (65.5) -1.5% (74.4) -1.8% -8.9 -12.0% Pre tax profit 311.0 7.2% 283.5 7.0% +27.5 +9.7% Tax (95.1) -2.2% (90.7) -2.3% +4.4 +4.9% Net profit before special items 215.9 5.0% 192.8 4.8% +23.1 +12.0% Special items 4.8 0.1% - 0.0% +4.8 +100.0% Net profit 220.7 5.1% 192.8 4.8% +27.9 +14.5% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 208.7 4.8% 182.9 4.5% +25.8 +14.1% Minority shareholders 11.9 0.3% 9.9 0.2% +2.1 +20.9% BALANCE SHEET (M€) 30/09/2018 INC.% 31/12/2017 INC.% CH. CH.% Net fixed assets 5,837.0 107.2% 5,780.6 110.5% +56.4 +1.0% Working capital 186.4 3.4% 23.2 0.4% +163.2 +703.4% (Provisions) (578.5) (10.6%) (574.8) (10.9%) (3.7) +0.6% Net invested capital 5,444.9 100.0% 5,229.0 100.0% +215.9 +4.1% Net equity 2,802.9 51.5% 2,706.0 51.7% +96.9 +3.6% Long term net financial debt 2,841.9 52.2% 2,735.4 52.4% +106.5 +3.9% Short term net financial debt (199.9) (3.7%) (212.4) (4.1%) +12.5 (5.9%) Net financial debts 2,642.0 48.5% 2,523.0 48.3% +119.0 +4.7% Net invested capital 5,444.9 100.0% 5,229.0 100.0% +215.9 +4.1% 9M 2018 2018-11-08 For further infotmations 9M 2018 Consolidated 3Q results at 30 September confirm the growth in operating and financial indicators already seen in the first half of the year, with positive contributions coming from the different Group's business areas, gas and waste management in particular. /-/hera-bod-approves-3q-2018-results-1?inheritRedirect=true /documents/1514726/4667212/GruppoHera_Consolidated_ThirdQuarterReport30September2018_eng.1541672459.pdf/4efd185a-8a09-4b8c-a66a-ef1134973617?t=1608550214672 http://investornews.gruppohera.it/en/?n=57 Press release Financial report as at 30/09/2018 Newsletter as at 30/09/2018 centrata Hera BoD approves 3Q 2018 results
25/10/2018

Biomethane, the road to green energy now passes through Sant'Agata Bolognese

impianto_biometano_110 How can energy amounting to 6 thousand tonnes of oil equivalent be obtained each year, without consuming a single drop of crude oil and thus avoiding 14,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions? As of today, the answer can be found in Sant'Agata Bolognese, just outside the capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region, where the Hera Group has inaugurated a major plant producing biomethane from the organic portion of waste, designed and created on the basis of the most advanced precedents seen in this sector internationally. The opening ceremony - that saw the participation of the region's alderwoman Paola Gazzolo, Hera's top management and the main local and sector institutions - ushered in a new phase in the decarbonisation of energy production, giving further impetus to the circular economy towards which the region has been moving for some time now. Thanks to this plant, indeed, sorted organic waste coming from our houses will serve the community under the form of gas. Once injected into the network, this gas will fuel public and private transportation vehicles running on natural gas, aiding a sector that is increasingly exposed to the issue of carbon dioxide emission. In line with policies adopted by the Region, the National Energy Strategy and the European Union, the Sant'Agata Bolognese plant will now begin extracting value from this 37 million euro investment. The plant furthermore represents an enrichment of the range of plants belonging to Herambiente, the national leader in waste treatment that has been active for years in biogas production for renewable electricity. A 100% renewable combustible from organic waste In terms of volume, the plant is capable of treating 100 thousand tonnes of sorted organic waste each year, in addition to 35 thousand tonnes resulting from plant clipping and pruning. Thanks to the implementation of new and improved technologies in anaerobic digestion and upgrading, in particular, these resources will allow 7.5 million cubic metres of biomethane, a 100% renewable combustible, to be obtained along with 20 thousand tonnes of compost, a bio-fertiliser mainly intended for agriculture. An architectural project conceived to bring the plant and the area served into harmony, minimising its environmental impact With no combustion plants whatsoever, the plant is located within a pre-existing composting site, with no additional land use required for its construction. Planned with an eye to minimising its acoustic and odoriferous impact, the structure furthermore meets architectonic criteria aimed at harmonising it with the surrounding area. Even its outer covering, which will be added over the next few months, will be dense with themes and motifs that relay the sense of what goes on inside: in particular, images will portray vegetation blossoming out of an arid and cracked ground, calling to mind the transformations undergone by the organic product within the plant. "We have been working with biomethane for some time now", comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. "Today's inauguration, in particular, is a crowning achievement that represents years of work. Our community will now be served by a plant born out of research, studies and European tenders that allowed us to choose the best of what is currently available on the market. What's more, renewable energies must necessarily become part of industrialisation processes capable of expressing their potential on a large scale. In this sense the Sant'Agata plant is an excellent example that can be replicated elsewhere, above all in light of a regulatory framework that is finally favourable and provides fundamental added value for sector development." "The ribbon has been cut in front of a highly innovative construction project that moves towards an energy transition, pointing in the direction of a low carbon economy: biomethane presents a significant opportunity for reducing the use of fossil fuels and lessening our region's energy footprint, with an eye to a circular economy", states the alderwoman of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Paola Gazzolo. "Renewable energy is a fundamental part of the green turn supported by the Emilia-Romagna government with the policies implemented since the beginning of its mandate. This change of pace is intended to offset the effects of climate change as currently seen and reduce the use of raw materials, promoting recovery and reuse. Precisely because these products and materials are available in limited quantities, we must save them and preserve their value: the project realised by Hera in Sant'Agata is headed in exactly this direction". Pictures of the inauguration of the S. Agata plant Watch the photogallery null null null null null null null null null null null null null Press release Biomethane, the road to green energy now passes through Sant’Agata Bolognese 1._Foto_25_10_18_09_09_40.1540463296.jpg 2._Foto_25_10_18_09_12_26.1540463297.jpg 3._Foto_25_10_18_09_16_07.1540463299.jpg 4._Foto_25_10_18_09_25_03.1540463300.jpg 5._Foto_25_10_18_09_36_08.1540463301.jpg 6._Foto_25_10_18_09_44_46.1540463302.jpg 7._Foto_25_10_18_10_25_35.1540463303.jpg 8._Foto_25_10_18_10_31_05.1540463304.jpg 9._Foto_25_10_18_10_31_09.1540463305.jpg 10._Foto_25_10_18_10_47_16.1540463306.jpg 11._Foto_25_10_18_10_50_02.1540463307.jpg 12._Foto_25_10_18_10_50_18.1540463308.jpg 13._Foto_25_10_18_10_51_06.1540463309.jpg 2019-05-27 Read more null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null null Inaugurated today, just outside Bologna, the first biomethane-from-organic-waste plant created by a multi-utility. Investments totalling 37 million euro have thus given new impetus to the future of renewable energies on an industrial scale, with 7.5 million cubic metres of biomethane and 20 thousand tonnes of compost sustainably fuelling, each year, a range of sectors including motor vehicle transport and agriculture http://ha.gruppohera.it/plants/composting/biometano_project/082.html http://ha.gruppohera.it/plants/main_plants/082.html From waste to biomethane, a circular revolution Herambiente's Main Plants impianto_biometano_110
03/10/2018

"In good waters": Hera's transparency on the water cycle

in_good_waters_110 "In buone acque" turns 10 years old It's the tenth birthday of the "In Good Waters" report that Hera Group prepares to provide detailed and easy-to-read information on the water cycle it manages in 231 municipalities of Emilia-Romagna, Marche, and Triveneto. As the second-largest operator in Italy by volume of water supplied (303 million m3 per year), Hera Group serves over 3.6 million citizens. This report is for them, the everyday users of the water resources the multi-utility manages, to fully inform them on the quality of the water coming out of their taps; a quality that is ensured by strict monitoring. This is proven by the number of analyses carried out last year throughout the company's entire service area: a total of over a million, more than 2,800 per day, on average. The analyses, 38% of which were carried out in the Group's laboratories, also concerned the presence of pesticides and non-regulated aspects, such as emerging pollutants and asbestos fibres. Of the checks carried out, 99.9% yielded results compliant with regulatory limits, confirming the safety of the water Hera distributes. Bologna's water: 134.000 quality assurance analyses In 2017, over a million Bologna residents used a water resource the quality of which was certified by more than 134,000 analyses carried out in the laboratories of the Hera Group and the ASL (local public health authority). The possibility of using tap water on a daily basis depends on the plant resources used by the company to distribute the service: in the Bologna area, tap water comes from 660 sources and travels through more than 9,000 km of aqueduct network, into which 108.4 million m3 of water are fed every year. This ensures a constant and adequate supply. Hera: water-related investments 32% above the Italian average Not only aqueduct but also purification and sewerage; managing the water service means taking care of the entire water cycle, meaning not only its distribution in homes but also the sewerage service and wastewater treatment. This is why the Hera Group has always focused most of its investments in the water sector: in 2017 they exceeded 156 million euro, compared to 130 million euro the previous year (+19%). More specifically, it invested 41% in the mains water network, 32% in the sewer system, and 27% in water treatment. Compared to a national average of 37 euro invested per inhabitant, in the area served by the Hera Group investments in 2017 were about 49 euro per inhabitant. The magnitude of this commitment has allowed Hera to work on more than 35,000 km of its aqueduct network, about 18,600 km of sewerage, 469 water treatment plants and 422 production and drinking water purification plants. All this against a cost of just two euro per thousand litres of tap water, about half of what consumers pay in other European nations. in_good_waters_870 20181003_in_good_waters_def.1564391876.pdf 2019-07-29 in_good_waters_870.1564383254.png Tenth annual appointment with the Group's report on an essential service. The value of the multi-utility's investments in the sector continues to increase: over 156 million euro in 2017 compared to 130 million last year. Excellent quality of the resource supplied, guaranteed by over a million analyses, of which more than 134,000 in the Bologna region alone Read more in_good_waters_110
18/09/2018

Biomethane, Bologna hosts leading conference on the green economy of gas

Infografica_biometano_110 There are three ingredients: circular economy, renewable energy, and gas. But the outcome their combination has just one name, it is called biomethane and is the new way to protect the environment and economic growth. Its potential seems extremely promising. The regulatory scenario is improving, and this is exactly why a major conference will be held on Friday, 21 September in Bologna to enable companies, institutions and trade associations to meet and take stock of the situation. It will be held at the Royal Hotel Carlton, hosted by the Hera Group with the collaboration of the Italian Gas Committee. Italian and international companies will participate, ready to share their experience and research, also in the light of the prospects and opportunities biomethane is opening up on several fronts: from treating organic waste to generating and distributing renewable energy, through the revival of sustainable mobility and the production of natural fertilizers that could give revitalize the entire agro-industrial sector. In addition to the Executive Chairman of the Hera Group Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, who will inaugurate the conference, the main speakers will include Alessandro Bratti, General Manager of ISPRA, and Giordano Colarullo, General Manager of Utilitalia, who will present the activities of the Biomethane Observatory. The spotlights will also focus on many technical issues related to the production and use of biomethane, with in-depth studies on chemical and sensory research, on the characterization of biomethane, on its monitoring, on the management of the aspects most directly related to distribution, as well as on the matter of odorization, for which Hera and Italgas will present a study. Infografica_biometano_870 20180918_Biometano_a_Bologna_gli_stati_generali_per_la_green_economy_del..._rev_def.1564380704.pdf 2019-07-29 infografica_biometano_1498141070.1535647018.1537263440.1564380703.png Attended by Italian and foreign companies and prominent figures, including the general director of ISPRA Alessandro Bratti, the conference held on Friday, 21 September and organized by Hera in collaboration with the Italian Gas Committee will take stock of the development of biomethane, the progress of its regulatory framework and future prospects http://ha.gruppohera.it/plants/composting/biometano_project/082.html Hera Biomethane Project Read more Infografica_biometano_110
06/09/2018

Hera ranked once again in top 25 of the Thomson Reuters Diversity and Inclusion Index

thomson reuters_110 The Hera Group has been confirmed as one of the most interesting companies, in Italy and worldwide, for investors who sustain all those committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. The results, which stem directly from the integration of these policies within the Group's strategy, have been approved by the 2018 edition of Thomson Reuters Diversity and Inclusion Index, whose candidate universe is made up of over 7,000 publicly traded companies worldwide. Hera, with a score of 73.5 points, proved to be the 2nd company in Italy and the 22nd across the world of this international ranking. Moreover, its position within its own sector was outstanding, coming in first worldwide among multi-utilities. The "Diversity and Inclusion Index" is an indicator, conceived and realised by Thomson Reuters, an international giant in financial information, that analyses companies' performances based on a range of factors, grouped into four areas: diversity, inclusion, people development and news & controversies. The performances of the Hera Group were therefore highly positive: giving concrete form to the strategic relevance of its diversity and inclusion policies, this multi-utility is indeed continuing its work in developing internal and personalised career paths, an approach that allowed the company to reach an amount of women in roles with responsibility coming to 31.3% in 2017. Rising overall, the percentage of female personnel furthermore ranked above the sector average (24.3%, as compared to 15.9%). This data is accompanied by a percentage of employees with disabilities that reaches 4.3% of the company's total workforce and also includes roles in management. From all these points of view, the contribution coming from training is significant, with particularly important initiatives such as leadership and smart working courses favouring the development of human resources, based on factors including the diverse characteristics of each resource (gender, age, training, ability, inclination and ability). Further positive effects no doubt derived from the corporate welfare plan, which sustains employees and their families in many different forms. Not by chance, encouraging results continue to emerge from this enquiry into the Group's corporate milieu, with further confirmation coming from a complete lack of controversies involving diversity and inclusion. Lastly, many initiatives make plurality management concrete, including agreements with daycare centres, summer camps, a range of programmes aimed at creating a positive work-life balance and the arrangements made for leave time, available not only for mums and dads but also for those who provide assistance to relatives or the elderly. The Hera Group's commitment to policies promoting inclusion and diversity, in any case, has a long history. It was first consolidated in 2009, when the Charter for equal opportunity and equality on the workplace was signed: with this document the company engaged, alongside other private and public bodies, in the struggle against discrimination on the workplace. The introduction in 2011 of a Diversity Manager, whose task involves giving even greater emphasis to developing policies aimed at inclusion and the valorisation of diversity, was also fundamental. Lastly, for some time now Hera has adhered to the fifth of the United Nation's objectives for sustainable development, specifically dedicated to gender equality. thomson reuters_870 20180906_Hera_ranked_once_again_in_top_25_of_the_Thomson_Reuters_Diversity_and_Inclusion_Index.1536159314.pdf 2018-09-05 Read more Logo_diversity_and_inclusion_870png.1536149260.png Conceived to provide orientation for investors showing interest towards companies committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and people development, this index evaluates over 7,000 of the world's publically listed companies and this year, once again, includes the Group among the most outstanding firms. With 73.5 points overall, Hera indeed comes in 2nd in Italy and 22nd worldwide. And, among multi-utilities, it ranks first in the world thomson reuters_110

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