Press releases

2023-07-17 The EIB loan will help improve the resilience of the integrated water cycle, energy efficiency and the management of environmental services in the areas served by Hera. Operations in the water sector will strengthen existing infrastructure, promote the reuse of water resources, and ensure the quality and continuity of service in the event of drought and extreme weather events. In the energy sector, the development of photovoltaic power plants — including small-scale ones — will enable renewable energy generation, while the installation of second-generation smart meters will improve energy efficiency. In the environmental sector, the construction and strengthening of plants will improve processing, recycling, and recovery capacity. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a €460 million loan to Hera Group, one of Italy’s 40 largest companies by market capitalisation (part of the FTSE MIB) operating in over 300 Italian municipalities. The main goals of the financing are to strengthen the resilience of integrated water services, increase the production of renewable energy, foster energy efficiency, decarbonisation and the circular economy, and bolster waste processing and collection, all in order to support Hera Group’s areas of operation on their path to a sustainable environmental transition and help combat climate change. This EU bank loan will finance over 60 Hera Group projects aligned with the EU taxonomy and in line with the objectives of the UN 2030 Agenda, helping the communities served by the Italian multi-utility on their path to a green transition closely connected to local society and industry. The EIB financing will therefore cover almost 60% of the total value of these investments (over €800 million) already planned by the company in its 2022-2026 industrial plan. Operations will mainly take place in Emilia-Romagna, but also in other areas served such as Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. In concrete terms, the EU bank resources will contribute to improving integrated water services via operations to further cut losses and renew rainwater collection and wastewater treatment facilities. Hera Group will increase its capacity for processing, recycling, and recovering waste by renovating existing collection centres and building new, cutting-edge plants for recycling plastic and carbon fibre and for the pre-treatment and storage of industrial waste. The EIB financing will also enable Hera Group to install over 370 000 second-generation smart meters in the regions concerned, as well as develop district heating and combined heat and power systems and build photovoltaic plants — even small-scale ones — to increase renewable energy production. Almost 40% of the EIB-financed investments will be made in the parts of Emilia-Romagna that were hit the hardest by the recent floods. The financed operations will improve the resilience of water services to future extreme weather events, including via the construction of underground rainwater collection tanks in areas of the Romagna coast subject to high hydrogeological risk. Elsewhere, a number of measures will be taken to make the sewerage network more resilient to flooding. The financing announced today is part of the REPowerEU initiative supported by the EIB, which will invest an additional €30 billion over the next five years to unlock €115 billion, promoting the green transition and gradually reducing Europe's dependence on fossil fuels. “This operation is a concrete example of the EIB’s commitment to promoting the sustainability, efficiency, and resilience of water, energy, and waste management infrastructure in Italy and across Europe,” said EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti. “The EIB loan will also back Hera Group's efforts to strengthen the services provided in the parts of Emilia-Romagna affected by flooding to improve prevention and the resilience of water services to future natural disasters.” “This financing from the EIB — a longstanding and steadfast partner of Hera Group — will give major impetus to our strategic plan and confirms our commitment to sustainable development in the regions where we operate, particularly with reference to the goals of decarbonisation, the circular economy, innovation, and resilience, in line with our company’s mission,” added Hera Group CEO Orazio Iacono. “It is a key component of our financial strategy that, as well as further expanding the range of innovative products and instruments adopted by the group, will also help support the 2022-2026 development plan, confirming the sound nature of our business and our financial flexibility.” Strong EIB support for Italy’s water sector The EIB is the EU climate bank and one of the world's largest lenders to the water sector, with over 1 600 projects and around €80 billion in funding granted since 1958. Italy was the biggest beneficiary of EIB resources for the water sector from 2016 to 2022. The EIB financed 40 operations in the country during this period, providing a total of €2.9 billion and helping to unlock about €8.9 billion in investment. Background information European Investment Bank (EIB) The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It provides long-term financing for sound investments that contribute to EU policy. The Bank finances projects in four priority areas: infrastructure, innovation, climate and environment, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Between 2019 and 2022, the EIB Group provided €45 billion in financing for projects in Italy. Hera Group Hera Group is a major Italian multi-utility operating in the environment, energy and water sectors. Its 9 000 employees work daily to meet the complex needs of almost 5 million residents mainly in Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Marche, Tuscany and Abruzzo. Listed on the stock exchange in 2003, it is one of Italy’s 40 biggest companies by market capitalisation (it is part of the FTSE MIB), and entered the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, World and Europe in 2020. www.gruppohera.it Press contact BEI: Lorenzo Squintani, l.squintani@eib.org, tel.: +352 4379 82528, mobile: +39 366 57 90 312 Website: www.eib.org/press — Press Office: +352 4379 21000 — press@eib.org HERA GROUP: Cecilia Bondioli, cecilia.bondioli@gruppohera.it, mobile +39 320 4790622 Press Office: +39 051.287595 - ufficiostampa@gruppohera.it 20230713 Pr EIB provides €460 million to Hera Group to boost the green transition.pdf 11:40:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg

2023-07-06 This transaction, strongly linked to the local social and industrial fabric, represents a major new commitment made by the Group to promote the energy transition and decarbonisation in the areas it serves. Only two months after the establishment of Horowatt, a NewCo between Hera Group and Orogel that within 2024 will create an innovative and sustainable agrivoltaic plant in the agricultural cooperative’s Cesena facilities, Hera’s programme for developing cutting-edge integrated solutions in the field of clean energy is making rapid progress. This morning, Hera Group finalised the acquisition of Tiepolo Srl, owned by Combigas and Greenfield Renewables (each one holding 50% of the shares), which has developed a project for constructing a solar park in Bondeno (Ferrara) capable of meeting the needs of over 5,000 households. The plant, which will have a capacity of 8.9 megawatts and will generate approximately 13 GWh/year when fully operational, is one of the Hera Group’s numerous projects aimed at producing renewable energy and already included in the Business Plan to 2026, to support citizens, businesses and public administrations in the decarbonisation and electrification of their consumption. In order to make a significant contribution to reducing climate-changing gas emissions in all localities served and accompany them towards carbon neutrality, the Group has not only allocated significant investments for the energy transition in its Business Plan, but has also set up a new business unit entirely dedicated to renewable energy production and energy management. “For the Hera Group, combating climate change is crucial and translates into a strong focus on the energy transition in all strategic areas of development outlined in our Business Plan to 2026”, comments Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group. “These concrete initiatives promote renewable energy sources, from photovoltaics to new models of distributed power generation and from hydrogen to biomethane, which will play an increasingly important role in the process towards the decarbonisation and energy security of our country. Once again, Hera’s contribution will be crucial for the sustainable development of all local areas in which we operate.” 20230706_Hera Group acquires Tiepolo to build photovoltaic power station.pdf 10:58:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg

2023-06-29 Through its subsidiary Hera Comm, the Group has acquired 60% of the long-standing Rimini-based company, a reference point for technological systems and renewable energy throughout Italy, thus expanding its portfolio of solutions dedicated to business customers. This morning, the Hera Group, acting through its subsidiary Hera Comm, finalised the acquisition of 60% of Fratelli Franchini. Based in Rimini, this company has a consolidated experience in the area of designing, installing and providing maintenance of all types of technological systems for companies, public administrations and hospitality facilities. It has been active for over 17 years in producing high-yield renewable energy sources for public and private industrial customers throughout Italy. The remaining 40% of the company stays in the hands of Franchini Group Srl, owned by brothers Pierpaolo and Marco Franchini, who retain the position of CEOs. This partnership with a long-standing operator, active both locally and nationally, will enable the Hera Group to acquire new technical skills, particularly in the photovoltaic market, expand its portfolio of solutions for business customers, and respond to the growing demand for systems based on renewable sources, further strengthening its position in the Italian energy market. The details of the partnership Fratelli Franchini boasts over half a century of activity in the system engineering sector: since 1959 it has been building technological systems and since 2006 it has also been working in the renewable energy sector, developing projects for business clients in the hotel, port, hospital, industrial, retail and museum sectors. This company is the partner of choice for clients in the industrial sector, both public and private, to whom it is able to offer integrated solutions in all phases necessary for installing and maintaining of electrical, mechanical, large-scale photovoltaic and energy efficiency systems. It has installed more than 300 systems over the years. This operation boosts the Hera Group’s ability to support its customers along the path to decarbonisation, including through the installation of photovoltaic generation systems, from traditional photovoltaic panel systems to new distributed power generation models such as Renewable Energy Communities. The services offered are rounded off by charging infrastructures for electric mobility, supply and installation of high-efficiency boilers and air conditioners, and energy efficiency systems. These activities will contribute to achieving the 37% emission reduction target by 2030, already validated by the prestigious international network Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). “With this partnership, we have consolidated our ability to support customers along their path towards the energy transition and electrification of consumption, offering tools for energy efficiency and self-production”, comments Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of Hera Group. “Moreover, following up on the transactions finalised in recent years for residential customers, this partnership allows us to enhance the value-added services we dedicate to companies and expand our operational and plant capacity, with concrete benefits for all our business customers.” “We are highly honoured that an outstanding company such as the Hera Group has chosen our company to develop its activities in the renewables sector. With this entry, we are certain that we will be able to give a strong boost to our business and further consolidate our position on the market, which already ranks us among the most important players in the sector”, comment Pierpaolo and Marco Franchini, CEOs of Fratelli Franchini. “We would like to thank Roberto Berardi and Gabriele Baschetti from Studio Skema and the lawyer Paolo Pieri who assisted us in the transaction. Special thanks also go to all our employees and collaborators who enabled us to reach this important milestone and who represent our strength and our future.” 20230629_Strengthen renewables with Fratelli Franchini partnership.pdf 12:29:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg

2023-06-15 Lorenzo Minganti, a non-executive and independent member of Hera S.p.A.’s Board of Directors and of the Company’s Control and Risk Committee, has announced his resignation, due to unforeseen professional commitments, effective as of 19 June 2023. Also note that to the Company’s knowledge, Mr. Minganti holds 6,700 Hera S.p.A. shares. 20230615 Resignation of a member of the Board of Directors.pdf 18:29:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg