Menu Display


Alert Web

HeraAssetPublisherFilterComuneSelector

Press releases and notices

Press Releases and Notices Testata

Hera Custom Facet Publish Date

Custom Facet

ddmStructureKey
Custom Facet

Hera Custom Facet Publish Date

Category Facet

Category
Category Facet

Disclaimer

Dissemination and storage of regulated information are made by 1INFO, www.1info.it, authorized by Consob and run by Computershare S.p.A. with registered office in Via Lorenzo Mascheroni n.19, 20145 Milan - Italy.

Seleziona il tuo comune

HeraAssetPublisherFilterComuneSelector

Asset Publisher

Press releases and notices
30/07/2025
Financial Results
Hera Spa
Other press releases
Price sensitive

Hera Group approves results for 1H 2025

The consolidated half-year report at 30 June shows increased net profit and capital expenditures, in line with corporate strategies and the targets contained in the Business plan. In a phase of market normalisation, the Group’s operating and financial solidity is confirmed.

Online since 30-07-2025 at 14:12
Press releases and notices
22/07/2025
Hera Spa
M&A
Price sensitive

Hera Group acquires Ambiente Energia and achieves further growth in the Special waste

<p><em>After the binding agreement reached in February, the acquisition of Ambiente Energia, based in Schio in Vicenza, from the Marzotto Group, through subsidiary Herambiente Servizi Industriali, has been completed. This transaction further expands the offer of waste recovery and treatment services to companies in one of the most dynamic areas of the country</em></p>
Online since 22-07-2025 at 11:25
Press releases and notices
14/07/2025
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Group on CDP’s «Climate A list»

<p><em>The recognition awarded by this independent international organisation bears witness to Hera’s concrete commitment to transparency in environmental reporting and to combating climate change</em></p>
Press releases and notices
10/07/2025
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Confirmed for the sixth consecutive year in the FTSE4Good Index Series

Hera Group’s sustainability performance exceeds the average of Italian companies and ranks among the top five global multi-utilities

Press releases and notices
02/07/2025
Hera Spa
M&A
Price sensitive

Herambiente S.p.A. acquires 100% of Aliplast S.p.A.

<p><em>The Hera Group company concludes its integration of this European leader in recycled plastic, which began in 2017, by purchasing the remaining 20% of the company from Rogroup S.r.l.</em></p>
Online since 02-07-2025 at 10:38
Press releases and notices
25/06/2025
Hera Spa
Other press releases
Price sensitive

Hera Group approves Code of Conduct for suppliers

Online since 25-06-2025 at 15:01
Press releases and notices
18/06/2025
Hera Spa
Other press releases
Price sensitive

Hera Group ranks 2nd in the ESG Identity Corporate Index 2025 (ex IGI)

<p><em>For the fifth consecutive year, the Group has been included among the top positions in the overall ranking of the index that rewards Italian companies that stand out for integrating ESG factors into their governance. On the tenth anniversary of the ESG Identity Corporate Index, Hera also received recognition for performance and continuity as Strongest Performer, Best Finance Identity and Best Transition Identity among Large Cap companies.</em></p>
Online since 18-06-2025 at 14:09
Press releases and notices
14/05/2025
Financial Results
Hera Spa
Price sensitive

Hera Group BoD approves results for 1Q 2025

<p><em>The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March shows improvement in the main operating and financial indicators. Growth in investments and the reduction of financial debt also continued.</em></p>
Online since 14-05-2025 at 12:24
Press releases and notices
30/04/2025
Hera Spa
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Hera Shareholders Meeting: 2024 financial statements approved and dividend increases to 15 eurocents

<p><em>The Group’s process of industrial growth continues, closing 2024 with key operating-financial indicators and investments rising, continuing to successfully seize market opportunities and generate value for the local areas served and all stakeholders</em></p>
Online since 30-04-2025 at 12:57
Press releases and notices
08/04/2025
Hera Spa
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Publication of the Draft Separate and Consolidated Financial Statements as of 31.12.2024, the Corporate Governance Report, and the Report on Remuneration and Compensation Paid

Publication of the Draft Separate and Consolidated Financial Statements

Online since 08-04-2025 at 19:03

Search Results

Press releases and notices
07/11/2022
Price sensitive
Hera Spa
M&A

Hera Group and ACR create the leading Italian operator in remediation and global service activities

2022-11-07 The binding agreement signed today provides for the acquisition by the Hera Group of 60% of ACR, based in Modena and leader in the remediation and industrial waste treatment sector. Today, the Hera Group, acting through its subsidiary Herambiente Servizi Industriali (HASI), signed a binding agreement for a long-term partnership that provides for the acquisition of 60% of the company A.C.R. di Reggiani Albertino S.p.A. ® (hereinafter ACR), one of Italy’s largest companies in the reclamation sector, involved in industrial waste treatment, decommissioning industrial plants and oil & gas-related civil works, based in Mirandola (Modena). The new company will also bring together some of the remediation and global services activities carried out by HASI. This unprecedented transaction gives way to the leading national operator in the remediation and global services business, with an extensive presence throughout Italy. The Hera Group will thus further strengthen its leadership in the waste treatment sector, thanks to its approximately one hundred certified, state-of-the-art plants. It can now rely on ACR’s high operating capacity, time-to-market in services and significant machinery and equipment, which is already active in over 100 remediation sites with over 450 employees and having among its customers the major players in the oil & gas sector. With this partnership, on the one hand, the Hera Group will reach in advance the target in reclamation activities set out in its business plan, following up on the path of growth already achieved in this area in terms of both size and sustainability/circular economy, in line with the goals on the UN’s 2030 Agenda, which over the last 10 years have enabled it to double its customer base. On the other hand, ACR is implementing its strategic plan by making an agreement concerning commercial areas with a leading national player in the sector, strengthening its presence in its core remediation business and entering the world of global services. The details of the transaction The synergies between the Hera Group’s set of plants and its multi-business strategy and ACR’s consolidated experience in environmental and industrial remediation are unique nationwide, in terms of know-how and waste treatment capacity, capable of creating significant and positive operating effects in the sectors in which the two companies operate, thus pooling their respective experience and outstanding skills. Through its subsidiary HASI, the Hera Group now manages 18 multi-purpose sites dedicated to treating waste produced by companies, and processes 1.3 million tonnes of industrial waste every year. In 2021, ACR generated revenues amounting to roughly 110 million euro, with Ebitda coming to approximately 17 million in the sectors concerned by the transaction. The current owners of ACR (the Reggiani family) will maintain 40% of the new corporate structure. In order to regulate the future governance, a Shareholders Agreement will be signed that provides for a Board of Directors of the new ACR made up of 5 members, 3 of whom will be appointed by the Hera Group and 2 by the Reggiani family, with the nomination of the two brothers Alberto and Claudio Reggiani as CEOs. Integrating the new ACR platforms with the plants currently managed by HASI, furthermore, will increase the number of solutions close at hand in the areas served in the past, improving efficiency and quality of services to businesses, also due to synergies with Herambiente. This new partnership is therefore in line with the strategic orientation adopted by the Group, whose activities are always aimed at guaranteeing positive returns and economic benefits for its customers and for local companies. This transaction follows up on the acquisitions completed some years ago by the Hera Group (from Waste Recycling, Teseco and Pistoia Ambiente in Tuscany, to Geo Nova and Aliplast in Treviso), and more recent acquisitions including the Friuli-based company Recycla, the Vallortigara Group, with offices in Vicenza, and shareholdings in the Marche-based companies SEA and Macero Maceratese. It thus represents a further step along the path of continuous growth achieved by Hera, which aims to provide its customers with efficient, innovative and competitive solutions in terms of both costs and sustainability in the circular economy. “With this new acquisition, we bring together the excellence and strengths of two leading companies that, together, complement each other synergistically to respond in an increasingly efficient and extensive way to the needs of companies, particularly those with large industrial plants where complex types of waste, both solid and liquid, must be treated. With this transaction, we have consolidated our leadership in this sector and aim to further reinforce our range of integrated waste management services, benefitting the entire national territory”, comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. “Becoming part of a large and financially solid company such as the Hera Group, well rooted in the areas served and provided with many specialisations, will allow us to broaden our horizons and enrich our activities in the waste management sector, integrating all the necessary and fundamental skills to be counted among the most important players nationwide in the area of remediation. We and our collaborators are convinced that this aggregation will allow us to face and overcome highly significant challenges together,” explain the brothers Alberto and Claudio Reggiani, CEOs of A.C.R. di Reggiani Albertino S.p.A.® In addition to the agreement signed today, the partnership will be subject to the usual conditions applied to this type of transaction and to all communications and approvals by the relevant authorities and bodies, as well as, with regard to the shareholdings involved, to the effectiveness of a number of preliminary transactions within ACR. The parties expect to complete the transaction by 31 March 2023. 20221007 Gruppo Hera and ACR binding agreement.pdf 18:13:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 07/11/2022 at 18:13
Press releases and notices
28/09/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera in the Top 10 of the Diversity & Inclusion Index

2022-09-28 In the international ranking of Refinitiv’s 2022 “Diversity & Inclusion Index”, the Group is included in the TOP10 globally, becoming the world’s leading multi-utility and the top company in Italy for its commitment to diversity and people inclusion and development policies. The Hera Group has been confirmed as one of the companies most committed to promoting diversity, inclusion and people development. This has been certified once again by Refinitiv’s “Diversity & Inclusion Index”, whose 2022 edition examined over 12,000 companies worldwide and assigned to the Group a score that places Hera in the TOP10 of the international ranking, now first among multi-utilities and the top Italian company. The “Diversity & Inclusion Index” is managed by the international financial information giant Refinitiv (formerly Thomson Reuters), and evaluates companies’ performance based on an analysis of four areas: diversity, inclusion, people development and controversies related to media exposure. This index is one of the main references for investors, who are taking an increasingly positive look at companies that adopt a Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) policy. After more than 10 years of projects, activities and initiatives aimed at reducing inequality, enhancing diversity and promoting an inclusive culture, this recognition provides further confirmation of the attention that the Hera Group pays to policies in this area. This approach is confirmed by the Charter for Equal Opportunities and Equality at Work, signed as early as 2009 and matured internally, with the support of the working group led by the Diversity Manager, and later promoted outside the company context as well, to foster increasingly inclusive cities. This is also demonstrated by Hera’s personnel policies: its corporate welfare plan, for example, provides important support for Group employees and their families, with 5.3 million in services used last year alone. Hera also invests in developing internal and customised career paths, with 34% of women in positions of responsibility and, more generally, a female workforce coming to 27.3%, above the national industry average (2021 figures). Outside the company, numerous initiatives have been developed to improve relations with customers including foreigners or those with disabilities, and to help spread an inclusive culture in society through projects with schools and associations in the areas served. “Acknowledgements such as this reinforce our daily commitment to encouraging an inclusive culture in the company and in the areas where we operate”, comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. “Starting from corporate welfare policies and professional development paths, this also includes training, as well as numerous projects to support marginalised and disabled people, collaborating with schools and associations. On the year of our twentieth anniversary, being the leading multi-utility in the world and the top company in Italy in the field of Diversity & Inclusion represents for us not a point of arrival, but rather an additional reason to continue to improve and to commit ourselves. All of this urges us, indeed, to put our workers and the citizens we serve even more at the centre, also benefiting the younger generations and favouring social equity, always with a view to pursuing the creation of shared value for all stakeholders.” Hera Group in the DI Index 2022.pdf 12:41:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 28/09/2022 at 12:41
Press releases and notices
28/09/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

CIRFOOD and Hera Group: a pact for sustainability

2022-09-28 These two Emilia-Romagna companies have signed a three-year agreement to launch circular economy initiatives and boost sorted waste collection and recovery CIRFOOD, a leading Italian cooperative company active in the collective and commercial catering and welfare services sector, and the Hera Group, one of Italy’s largest multi-utilities, signed a memorandum of understanding today – one day before the International Food Loss and Waste Awareness Day – to collaborate on projects aimed at fostering circular economy, environmental sustainability and sustainable mobility, consistent with the sustainable development goals set out in the UN 2030 Agenda. The agreement signed today between Hera and CIRFOOD, which for years have both been committed to promoting initiatives aimed at sustainability, will last three years and will be developed by gradually implementing a series of environmental projects and initiatives. This will begin with catering outlets located mainly in the areas served by Hera, and will gradually expand its scope of action to other regions. Extensive awareness-raising activities will also be jointly developed, targeting both employees and customers, to whom specific campaigns will be dedicated. This collaboration is even more significant if one considers the figures represented by the two companies. In 2021 alone, CIRFOOD, Italy’s foremost company in collective catering, prepared more than 77 million meals, employing almost 12 thousand people and managing 1,700 kitchens and 120 public establishments. As of today, this large organisation will benefit from the Hera Group’s twenty years of experience in the field of waste management: Hera is in fact the leading national operator in terms of waste treated and in 2021 reached over 65.3% of sorted waste collection on average in the areas it serves (over 180 municipalities with 3.2 million citizens). Moreover, Hera was the first utility in Italy to join the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a prestigious international network that brings together the world’s most active players in the transition towards the circular economy. Projects in the circular economy, environmental sustainability and sustainable mobility In the current economic and environmental context, waste is an increasingly urgent issue which must be addressed, and to which the Italian and European political agenda is also focused, making those involved in its production and management increasingly responsible. With this agreement, Hera and CIRFOOD have launched a collaboration concerning several specific projects in the field of environmental sustainability, from countering food waste to finding solutions for sustainable mobility, without forgetting research on solutions consistent with the principles of the circular economy both in choosing between types of packaging and in managing their end-of-life, up to the most advanced solutions in valorising discarded materials, whether food or otherwise. The organic waste produced in catering outlets will thus be used to produce biomethane and compost in the Hera Group’s plant near Bologna, in Sant’Agata Bolognese, while exhausted vegetable oils (those that remain at the end of food preparation, e.g. frying oils, or those used to preserve food) that are separately collected can be used to produce hydrogenated biofuel, thanks to the partnership signed by Hera with Eni. Hera and CIRFOOD will also collaborate in studying the best materials to use as an alternative to single-use plastic, combining food safety with the lowest possible environmental impact, and in developing projects to recycle the plastic used in catering outlets. Hera will furthermore be able to provide support on how to sort and treat the waste produced. Over 260 CIRFOOD outlets potentially involved The number of CIRFOOD catering outlets potentially involved in the various projects covered by the protocol signed today comes to 269. More specifically, as of 1 September, 245 kitchens send their used cooking oil to Hera, while the organic waste produced in 24 catering outlets can be used to produce biomethane and compost at the Hera Group’s plant in Sant’Agata Bolognese. “The transition to the circular economy is first and foremost a cultural challenge. This agreement with CIRFOOD provides a virtuous example of this fact, and bears witness to how even companies that are apparently quite distant as regards their daily activities can find common ground and bring about this important change together”, says Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group. “The challenges currently facing us require an ever greater valorisation of what, until quite recently, we used to call waste. Today, it must be increasingly considered as a resource, or an opportunity to consume fewer raw materials and to create and sustain an efficient recovery industry that contributes to the well-being and prosperity of our communities.” “The scope of the economic, social and environmental changes we are now undergoing requires us to become even more aware of the role each of us plays in safeguarding our planet’s resources”, comments Chiara Nasi, Chairman of CIRFOOD. “CIRFOOD is committed every day to implementing solutions that can guarantee sustainable development, to the benefit of all its stakeholders, the company and the area served. We also know, however, that the action of one single company is not enough. Sustainability can only be seen as a common goal, and the joint commitment of CIRFOOD and HERA on circular economy issues is intended as a response to the needs of communities and the challenges faced by society, from an intergenerational perspective.” 20220928 Hera Group and CIRFOOD sustainability pact.pdf 10:31:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 28/09/2022 at 10:31
Press releases and notices
06/09/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

SynBioS: “power to gas” and multi-business expertise, to meet the challenge of decarbonisation

2022-09-06 Within 2023, the Hera Group will build a system in Bologna equipped with “power to gas” technology, integrated with its largest water purification plant. One of the first to be built internationally, it will be able to convert renewable electricity and wastewater into “green” hydrogen and then into biomethane. It will thus be possible to power the annual consumption of 1,200 households and avoid CO2 emissions equivalent to the amount produced in one year by 400 cars. The Hera Group, one of Italy’s largest multi-utility companies, presents its innovative “power to gas” plant named SynBioS (Syngas Biological Storage) at the Gastech exhibition in Milan, an event dedicated to the energy sector. This plant will be able to convert renewable electricity and wastewater into “green” hydrogen and then into biomethane. SynBioS, located in Bologna Corticella, inside the largest purification plant by users served among those managed by the Group, is currently scheduled to be operational within 2023 and is linked to the support coming from incentives, including for example those coming from the PNRR. One of the first to be built internationally, the SynBioS plant has been made possible thanks to an investment coming to around 10 million euro and the synergies created between energy decarbonisation and water purification. The Group’s multi-business know-how, combined with its continuous investments in innovation, research and development, are in fact the strategic drivers that over the years have enabled Hera to develop cutting-edge integrated solutions in the field of “clean energy”, in line with the programmes outlined in its Business Plan. For this project the Group has confirmed the collaboration with its outstanding partner Pietro Fiorentini, an Italian market leader in the production of products and services for the entire natural gas chain, that in recent years has made significant investments in developing innovative solutions related to the renewable energy sector. A plant to obtain biomethane from renewable electricity The plant, which uses “power-to-gas” technology to convert renewable electricity into synthetic natural gas, not only increases the pollutant reduction potential of the sewage treatment plant, but also allows excess renewable energy to be valorised by reusing biomethane in the city’s distribution network, which thus acts as a long-term storage facility. More specifically, the plant will use wastewater and renewable electricity to produce “green” hydrogen and oxygen. Taking advantage of the CO2 found in the biogas produced by sewage sludge digestion, the hydrogen is converted into biomethane, which can then be fed into the city’s gas network, without concentration limits, and easily stored, thus enabling a diversified supply. Furthermore, oxygen will be used in the future to increase the sewage treatment plant’s capacity and efficiency in purification. The figures: the annual methane gas consumption of 1,200 households sustainably covered At full capacity, coming to 1 MW, the plant will be able to produce approximately 190 Nm3/h of green gas, preventing roughly 50 Nm3/h of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, corresponding to the annual impact of about 400 cars. This is a true flagship project from the point of view of the circular economy: while producing enough methane to cover the annual consumption of 1,200 households, in fact, the plant will use the waste water produced by about 50 people every day, also helping to increase the quality of the purification process itself. “For our Group, this plant represents a further significant experience in process integration between our state-of-the-art plants and an industrial synergy between the electricity grid and the city’s gas distribution network. The ‘power-to-gas’ plant and the purification plant, in fact, will work in a strong symbiosis within a perfectly circular regime”, says Alessandro Baroncini, the Hera Group’s Central Director for Networks. “Moreover, it provides additional confirmation of the Group’s commitments included in its significant investment programme, aimed at innovation and improving the performance of networks and plants, with a view to continuously ensuring the highest service quality and efficiency and pursuing the goals of energy decarbonisation, environmental sustainability and resource protection, in line with the strategies outlined in our Business Plan. This initiative, once again, sees us as a forerunner in the sector, with the hope of providing the government and the regulator with elements that can help support the industrial development of these applications.” “The strategic vision of the Hera Group, an excellence among our multi-utilities, coincides exactly with what Pietro Fiorentini has developed in recent years to support the ambitious European programmes as regards the energy transition”, says Cristiano Nardi, Executive Chairman of the Pietro Fiorentini Group. “We believe that the construction of the Bologna Corticella plant represents a fundamental milestone in the evolution of the energy sector, which is now facing a range of new challenges. Being a partner of the Hera Group once again for this challenging project is for us a source of great satisfaction and pride.” 20220906 SynBioS technical description (123 kb - PDF) 20220906 SynBioS to meet the decarbonization challenge.pdf 14:00:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 05/09/2022 at 14:00
Press releases and notices
27/07/2022
Price sensitive
Financial Results
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera BoD approves 1H 2022 results

2022-07-27 The half-year report shows increasing revenues and Ebitda, thanks to the contribution coming from the Group’s main business areas. The management policies implemented and the solidity and resilience of Hera’s business model have once again proven effective, allowing the Group to achieve results in line with the projections of the Business Plan to 2025, even in the current difficult economic situation, and to continue creating value for all stakeholders. Financial highlights Revenues at 8,896.0 million euro (+112.8%) Ebitda* at 631.2 million euro (+3.3%) Net profit* at 201.7 million euro (-12.7%) Net financial debt at 3,682.4 million euro, with Net debt/Ebitda* at 2.96x, confirming the Group’s financial solidity Operating highlights Contribution to growth comes from main businesses Further development of initiatives for the ecological transition and the circular economy Solid energy customer base, amounting to roughly 3.5 million Today, the Board of Directors of the Hera Group, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated operating results for the first half of 2022. Despite the complicated scenario, marked by ongoing volatility on energy markets and international geopolitical conflicts, the Hera Group’s management policies and its solid and resilient business model have once again proven effective. The Group has thus achieved results that guarantee both quality and continuity of services and the constant creation of value for all stakeholders. Hera’s now consolidated multi-business strategy, balanced between internal growth and M&As, as well as between regulated and free market activities, indeed allowed the Group, even in scenarios characterised by increasingly frequent systemic crises, to positively face the challenges of 2022. The results achieved in the first half of the year are even more appreciable considering that they also fully offset the negative impact of ARERA’s resolution 614/2021, containing a reduction of return on capital invested in regulated activities (WACC). As regards changes in the scope of consolidation, the energy areas benefited from the acquisitions, through the subsidiary Hera Comm, of 90% of the Abruzzo company Eco Gas and 100% of the company Con Energia. Also note that Hera Comm was awarded the gradual protection service for electricity supply to SMEs in 9 Italian regions. In the waste management area, compared to June 2021, note the integration of 80% of the Vallortigara Group, which provides services to industries, public administrations and citizens and manages a multi-purpose platform for special waste treatment in the Veneto region. * In order to ensure that the results presented reflect the actual performance of the gas business more clearly, and are thus more easily comparable, the figures with an asterisk include an operational adjustment based on a valuation of stocked gas at prices pertaining to the period of injection, thus excluding procurement intended for delivery to end customers with costs defined in 2021 (much lower than the costs seen in the second quarter of 2022). See the paragraph entitled “Special items and operational adjustments / balance sheet reconciliation” in the first-half financial report, which contains a comparison between the operating and the consolidated statements. Furthermore, note the acquisition on 30 June 2022, through the subsidiary Marche Multiservizi, of 70% of Macero Maceratese, which operates in the waste management sector. With this additional transaction, the Hera Group has strengthened its nationwide leadership in the waste management sector, and industrial waste management and treatment in particular. Revenues reach roughly 8.9 billion euro In the first half of 2022, revenues amounted to 8,896.0 million euro, with a sharp increase (+112.8%) compared to 4,179.7 million euro seen at 30 June 2021, thanks to the contribution coming from all major business areas. The energy areas in particular showed significant growth, mainly related to the increase in commodity prices. Furthermore, growth in energy services was related to energy efficiency in residential buildings (insulation bonus and 110% super-bonus) and increasing activities involving value-added services for customers. As regards the waste management area, instead, higher revenues mainly came from energy production, the expansion of business customer base and changes in market prices. Ebitda* increases to 631.2 million euro Ebitda* for the first half of 2022 rose to 631.2 million euro (+3.3%), against 610.9 million euro at 30 June 2021, up 20.3 million euro, mainly due to contributions coming from the energy, waste management and water areas. Financial operations improved, pre-tax profit and net profit substantially stable The result of financial operations for the first six months of 2022 came to 50.9 million euro, with a 4.2 million euro improvement compared to 30 June 2021, mainly due to lower financial expenses on long-term debt (the result of debt optimisation operations) and lower expenses from discounting provisions. Compared to the equivalent figures for the previous year, pre-tax profit* thus amounted to 284.0 million euro, up slightly (+0.9%) over the 281.5 million euro seen one year earlier, while net profit* pre-minorities, equal to 201.7 million euro, remained in line with that as at 30 June 2021 (206.4 million euro). Net results* at 201.7 million Net profit* at 30 June 2022 amounted to 201.7 million euro, down from 231.1 million in the first half of 2021, which included non-recurring items amounting to 24.7 million, caused by a tax realignment and the partial repurchase of some bonds. Investments rise; net financial debt affected by the higher value of gas storage In the first half of 2022, the Group’s operating investments, including capital grants, amounted to 287.1 million euro, up sharply (+16.3%) compared to the 246.9 million euro seen during the same period of the previous year, and were mainly related to works on plants, networks and infrastructures. Alongside the latter, regulatory adjustments mainly concerned gas distribution, with a large-scale replacement of meters, and the purification and sewerage area. Net financial debt went from 3,261.3 million euro at 31 December 2021 to 3,682.4 million euro at 30 June 2022, showing an increase coming to roughly 421.1 million euro. This was mainly due to a change in net working capital*, due to the higher value of stored gas, already contracted to better serve the needs of the upcoming thermal season and guarantee quality and continuity of service to customers. The net debt/Ebitda* ratio increased slightly, reaching 2.96x. Gas Ebitda* for the gas area – which includes natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and energy services – amounted to 299.3 million euro in the first half of 2022, a strong improvement (+26.2%) over the 237.1 million euro seen at 30 June 2021. This increase was mainly driven by higher sales and trading, thanks to an expansion of the area served resulting from last resort markets and the recent corporate acquisitions of Eco Gas and Con Energia, as well as the positive margins recorded on traditional markets. Also note the growth in incentivised activities involving energy efficiency and district heating services, and the increased earnings in the gas business in Bulgaria A slight increase occurred in the gas customer base (+1.6% compared to the same period of the previous year), which came close to 2.1 million overall. This growth took place both on last resort markets and on traditional markets, thanks to the expansion of the area served owing to the Consip tenders and the aforementioned acquisitions in the energy sector. The gas area accounted for 47.4% of Group Ebitda. Electricity Ebitda for the electricity area – which includes electricity generation, distribution and sales services – amounted to 40.1 million euro, down compared to the same period in 2021 due to different conditions on energy markets, related to the exceptional context of rising raw material prices, which caused a lesser use of the dispatching services market and made procurement activities more costly, particularly in customer consumption profiling. Note the positive result obtained from sales initiatives involving free market customers, supported by innovative offers, value-added services and improved customer experience. Alongside this, Hera Comm was awarded, for the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024, the gradual protection service for electricity supply to SMEs in nine Italian regions. An increasing request for value-added services was also seen, with 49% growth in customers compared to the previous year, demonstrating the growing loyalty of the Group’s customer base. The customer base in the electricity area also continued to expand, now exceeding 1.4 million (+5.6%), mainly as a result of activities on the free market, both due to the gradual protection service awarded and the strengthening of the commercial actions introduced. The electricity area accounted for 6.4% of Group Ebitda. Water cycle Ebitda for the integrated water cycle area – which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services – amounted to 125.3 million euro at 30 June 2022, up (+2.5%) compared to the 122.3 million euro seen in the first half of 2021. This increase is mainly due to the contribution coming from higher supplying revenues and the excellent performance achieved by the Group in terms of technical quality in managing the integrated water service. Note, in fact, that during 2022 the regulatory authority ARERA published the results relating to the incentive mechanism falling within the technical quality regulations established by resolution 917/2017, referring to the years 2018-2019, and the Hera Group was at the top of the nationwide ranking. In the first half of 2022, investments made in the water cycle area, including capital grants, rose to 96.2 million (59.3 million in the aqueduct, 20.8 million in sewerage and 16.0 million in purification), up 7.7% compared to the same period of 2021. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 19.9% of Group Ebitda. Waste management In the first half of 2022, Ebitda for the waste management area rose to 150.7 million euro overall, up from the 142.6 million seen at 30 June 2021. More specifically, Ebitda for waste treatment services amounted to 117.9 million, up 12.7 million, while Ebitda for collection and sweeping services amounted to 32.8 million, down 4.6 million, mainly due to the beginning of new concessions. The increased Ebitda for treatment services was primarily due to a rise in earnings from energy management and expansion in the industrial waste market. Note the increase in waste commercialised, due mainly to an increase in market waste, thanks to the consolidation of existing business relations, the larger customer portfolio and recent corporate acquisitions. The increase in sales prices for market activities was also able to fully neutralise the effect of inflation on costs. Thanks to its sound management policies and its set of plants, which continues to represent a strategic and distinctive asset, also for its ability to promote the circular economy, the Hera Group thus continues to seize opportunities for growth, confirming its ability to react with great resilience to the current market context, despite the geopolitical situation and the economic stagnation seen during the first half of the year. In Italy, in fact, the progressive and persistent increase in energy costs and the difficulties in obtaining raw materials, which began at the end of 2021, led to a slowdown in production in many manufacturing sectors during the first six months of 2022, with repercussions for waste production as well. Despite this, the Group was able to consolidate its leadership in the markets in which it operates (especially the industrial and recovery markets), with Aliplast’s continued commercial expansion in plastic recycling and regeneration. In the first six months of 2022, all the main circular economy initiatives launched in previous years continued, from material recovery to the production of renewable energy (such as the ongoing construction of a new plant in Spilamberto for biomethane production). Protecting environmental resources remains a priority objective in 2022, as does maximising their reuse, as is shown by the special attention dedicated to increasing sorted waste collection, which in the first half of 2022 stood at 66.4%, up 1.3% compared to June 2021. The waste management area accounted for 23.9% of Group Ebitda. Statement by Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano The results we achieved in the first half of the year are consistent with both the growing results presented in the first quarter and the main targets included in the Business plan. Our prudent and risk-averse management policies have shown great resilience, even when faced by the current extreme scenarios, guaranteeing that our long track record of growth continues. This situation has enabled us to remain fully compliant with our commitments to investors, as demonstrated last month with the payment of a dividend in line with expectations and up 9% year-on-year. Armed with a resilient business model and a well-proven financial solidity, we are prepared to face the current context, committed to meeting our commitments towards all our stakeholders in the future as well. Statement by CEO Orazio Iacono Despite the unstable national and international energy context and extreme market volatility, the Hera Group performed better in the first half of 2022 than in the same period of the previous year, achieving overall positive results in all business areas. In addition, the Group’s financial solidity enabled us to confirm the important programme of planned investments, which were up by over 16% in the first half of the year compared to 2021 and were aimed at innovating and improving the performance of networks and plants, with a view to ensuring the highest service quality and efficiency at all times. Alongside this, we continue to pursue sustainable and inclusive growth, benefitting communities and local areas Press release H1 2022 .pdf 15:01:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 27/07/2022 at 15:01
Press releases and notices
25/07/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera is the first Italian listed company certified by Bureau Veritas for the circular economy

2022-07-25 The Group has successfully concluded its certification process with the multinational Bureau Veritas, the sector’s leader, confirming the commitment shown by Hera over the years with numerous projects and initiatives favouring the circular economy. For its circular economy projects, Hera has obtained from Bureau Veritas Italia, a leading multinational certification company, the certificate for the AFNOR XP X30-901 standard, the first issued to an Italian multi-utility. The French AFNOR XP X 30-901 standard is now the main international reference for implementing a management system for circular economy projects. This model, in fact, provides a point of reference for all companies that, wishing to adopt circular solutions within their production systems, need a certifiable guide on which to base themselves. Certification for the AFNOR standard encourages standardisation of corporate methodologies for project management, achieved by adopting a concrete tool to carry out a critical analysis of these methods in relation to areas of action and environmental, social and economic factors. More specifically, it is based on a matrix that combines the 3 classical factors involved in sustainability (environment, economy, society) with the 7 action areas of the circular economy (Sustainable Procurement, Eco-design, Industrial Symbiosis, Functional Economy, Responsible Consumption, Product Life Extension, Efficient Product and Material Management). Hera has implemented a management system for its circular economy projects and has set up the following three, according to this matrix: the “O.V.E.” project to transform the exhausted vegetable oils collected in the served area into biofuel; a project to integrate circularity criteria into procurement; and a project to reuse purified wastewater. Bureau Veritas Italia was therefore called upon to analyse them in detail and has certified the compliance of the company’s management system for circular economy projects with the AFNOR standard. “Obtaining this certification guarantees greater transparency in the results achieved by the Hera Group in the area of the Circular Economy towards all its stakeholders”, comments Marcello Guerrini, Group Manager of Corporate Services. “Sustainable development has always been at the heart of our company’s strategies, across all of its businesses, and the application of the management system foreseen by the AFNOR standard, certified by an authoritative third-party body such as Bureau Veritas, gives value to all the efforts made over the years and contributes to responding even more efficiently to Goal 12 of the 2030 UN Agenda (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns). It thus represents a further important step for the Hera Group, which for years has been committed to initiatives aimed at favouring the transition towards an increasingly circular economy.” Andrea Filippi, Certification Service Line Manager of Bureau Veritas Italia points out that “the transition from the current linear economic system to a circular economy model goes through concrete and verifiable actions. Bureau Veritas Italia stays by the side of organisations that – like Hera – choose innovative circular models by measuring themselves against international best practices. Thanks to the management system foreseen by AFNOR XP X 30-901, companies benefit from a roadmap that helps them define objectives, measure and communicate their circularity performance.” 20220725 Bureau Veritas circular economy certification.pdf 11:10:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 25/07/2022 at 11:10
Press releases and notices
29/06/2022
M&A
Hera Spa

Marche Multiservizi acquires Macero Maceratese

2022-06-30 With the acquisition of 70% of this long-standing company based in the Marche region, the Hera Group subsidiary expects a 10% increase in turnover and a 5% rise in Ebitda, when in full force. With this additional transaction, which follows up on others carried out in previous years, the Hera Group has strengthened its national leadership in the waste management sector, regarding in particular industrial waste management and treatment. The Hera Group, acting through its subsidiary Marche Multiservizi, the leading operator in public utilities in the Marche region, has acquired from the Iesari family 70% of Macero Maceratese, a long-standing company in this area, operating since 1969 in the waste management sector, whose customers are mainly located in the province of Macerata and to a lesser degree in the remaining provinces of the Marche region, as well as in the neighbouring regions of Abruzzo and Umbria. With this additional transaction, the Hera Group has strengthened its national leadership in the waste management sector, thus making its state-of-the-art set of plants, as well as an all-round service for special waste, available to local companies who were previously customers of Macero Maceratese. By operating on the free market and creating significant synergies both with the other companies of the Hera Group active in waste treatment and with its own industrial poles already operating in the province of Pesaro and Urbino, Marche Multiservizi expects, when in full force, a 10% increase in turnover and a 5% increase in Ebitda, with an overall benefit for all stakeholders in the area served. This acquisition, which follows up on the transactions carried out in recent years by the Hera Group (including Waste Recycling, Teseco and Pistoia Ambiente in Tuscany, as well as Geo Nova and Aliplast in Treviso, Recycla in Friuli, the Vallortigara Group in Vicenza and a 31% stake in SEA in the Marche region), represents a new step along Hera’s path of continuous growth, which aims to provide companies with efficient, cutting-edge and competitive solutions in terms of costs and sustainability in the circular economy. History and activities of Macero Maceratese Widely recognised and consolidated in central Italy, for over 50 years Macero Maceratese has been dealing with services related to managing the waste produced by local industries, including SMEs and large-scale retail trade, and activities related to managing municipal waste, partially destined for energy recovery and landfills, and partially for treatment and recovery. With 30 employees working at three sites in Macerata, Piediripa di Macerata and Martinsicuro (Teramo province), in the last three years Macero Maceratese has handled an annual average of 58 thousand tonnes of waste. The main plant in Piediripa di Macerata is home of two large-capacity pressing plants, a shredding plant and a waste sorting plant, which boast ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 certification, modern equipment and qualified personnel. “With this acquisition, we are continuing our significant strategic growth in the industrial waste sector and further strengthening our leadership in the waste management sector. The entry of this Macerata-based company into our Group and the synergies between these new platforms and our current set of plants will increase the number of our close-at-hand solutions in the areas served, improving the efficiency and quality of services to local businesses with positive returns on the areas served and economic benefits for customers”, comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. “With the authorisations and facilities of this historic company based in Macerata, and above all thanks to its know-how and expertise, Marche Multiservizi will be able to provide local businesses in the provinces of Macerata, Ascoli, Fermo and Pesaro and Urbino with a complete service, in particular concerning collection, transport and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous special waste, confirming the strong roots of our multi-utility in this area”, adds Mauro Tiviroli, CEO of Marche Multiservizi. 20220630 Marche Multiservizi acquisisce Macero Maceratese_eng.pdf 10:52:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 29/06/2022 at 10:52
Press releases and notices
15/06/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Group once again ranks first in the 2022 Integrated Governance Index

2022-06-15 For the second year in a row, the Group leads the overall ranking in the index measuring the degree to which ESG factors are integrated within corporate governance. Hera is the foremost company in Italy for the importance of sustainability policies, fully and consciously incorporated within its business strategies. This is demonstrated, for the second consecutive year, by the Integrated Governance Index, the main quantitative index to measure the integration of ESG factors in corporate governance, managed by ETicaNews and presented today in Milan at the ESG Business Conference. “We are very pleased with this recognition”, remarks the Hera Group’s Executive Chairman, Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, “since it rewards the attention we have always paid to governance, which has been the key to face successfully the challenges in all these years. This has not only led us to increase by six times the Group’s capitalisation, but also to undergo processes of profound changes and transformation, always guaranteeing strategic consistency and ever-growing results to the benefit of all our stakeholders.” Sustainability at the heart of Hera’s strategies Ever since its foundation, sustainability has been at the core of Hera’s strategy. This award is therefore fully in line with the cultural transformation that began 20 years ago and has concerned all aspects of the Group. ESG factors are indeed fully integrated within the company’s activities and represent a strategic asset in all respects. The Group’s attention to sustainability is also proven by the recent transformation of subsidiary Hera Luce into a Benefit Corporation. This decision represents a further step towards sustainable development, following last year’s introduction of the concept of corporate purpose into the Group’s Articles of Association. The central role played by creating shared value also becomes clear in the Group’s 2021 Sustainability Report, which for the first time reports on activities consistent with the European Union taxonomy, ahead of the regulatory obligation that will only come into force in 2023. Lastly, as far as sustainable finance is concerned and in line with the growing interest shown by investors in ESG factors, Hera – the first company in Italy to issue a “green” bond in 2014 – recently successfully launched its third green bond, offering the market the possibility to invest in the Group’s activities that comply with the criteria in the European Taxonomy. The Group has also published a new Green Financing Framework (GFF), certified by an independent company and already aligned with the Taxonomy. 20220615 PR IGI 2022 HERA Group.pdf 14:12:00 Logo IGI 2022 - vert.jpg See the press release Logo IGI 2022 - vert.jpg
Online since 15/06/2022 at 14:12
Press releases and notices
08/06/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Luce becomes a benefit corporation

2022-06-08 The Hera Group subsidiary is among the first public lighting companies in Italy to include in its articles of association a commitment to produce benefits for its stakeholders, demonstrating Hera’s focus on sustainable development and creating value for the local areas and communities served At a time when the climate emergency and social demands are current issues, the Hera Group has further strengthened its twenty-year commitment to sustainable development and creating value for the local areas and communities it serves. It has done so by transforming Group subsidiary Hera Luce, one of the nation’s foremost operators in the public lighting sector and a leader in sustainable city lighting services with energy efficiency and circular economy solutions, into a Benefit Corporation. This is not, however, a true revolution for the Bologna-based company, but rather a further step along the path taken by the Hera Group last year, when it introduced the concept of “corporate purpose” into its Articles of Association. One of the first companies in Italy to do so, Hera thus made explicit the objectives it aims to achieve in carrying out its business activities and reaffirmed the focus on sustainability that has characterised it since its establishment. Hera Luce’s Shareholders Meeting approved the transformation of this company into a Benefit Corporation (pursuant to and in accordance with Law no. 208 of 28 December 2015) by amending article 3 of its Articles of Association, which now includes the aim of “operating responsibly, sustainably and transparently towards people, communities, local areas and the environment as well as cultural, social resources and activities, authorities, associations and other stakeholders”. Hera Luce made this choice on a voluntary basis, one of the first in Italy in the public lighting sector to take this initiative: thanks to this change in its articles of association, transparency and benefits for stakeholders have definitively become part of its corporate DNA. Three specific purposes are involved in the shared benefit that Hera Luce intends to pursue: contributing to the prosperity of the local communities in which the company operates, by designing and implementing sustainable, resilient and innovative models for urban development, to approach interventions on cities (Hera Luce for smart circular city/land); pursuing carbon neutrality, by acting through interventions aimed at energy efficiency and the energy transition towards renewable sources; leading the transition towards a circular economy model through means including measuring circularity from a lifecycle perspective. These are specific goals related to environmental issues, energy efficiency and transition as well as the circular economy. This Hera Group subsidiary aims to achieve them by ensuring the best working conditions for its own employees and those of its suppliers, and by promoting public-private collaboration in a multi-stakeholder approach. By becoming a Benefit Corporation, in compliance with current legislation, Hera Luce will be required to draw up an annual report on its pursuit of shared benefits, to be attached to the company’s financial statements, which will be published on Hera Luce’s website. “At Hera, we are aware that we have a great responsibility towards the local areas in which we operate”, states Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. “In our twenty years of activity, the Hera Group has placed the sustainable development of its businesses and the communities it serves at the centre of its strategy, always putting the generation of value at the heart of its relationship with all stakeholders served by the company, first and foremost its own employees, and extending it to institutions, local communities, shareholders, customers and suppliers. The transformation of our subsidiary Hera Luce into a Benefit Corporation reinforces our Group’s commitment to balanced and sustainable development through concrete and innovative projects for the energy transition, circular economy and technological evolution.” “This is a very important goal, that comes on top of the certification of the Material Circularity Report we obtained at the beginning of this year”, explains Alessandro Battistini, General Manager of Hera Luce. “Becoming a Benefit Corporation represents a commitment and a responsibility of which we are deeply aware. For Hera Luce, projects have always been characterised by their value in social and environmental terms, as well as their transparency. This choice represents a further step towards concretely achieving the model of corporate sustainability required by the market.” Legally introduced in Italy in 2016, Benefit Corporations represent an evolution of the concept of a company, with a view to sustainability and common benefit. They are, in fact, companies that decide to integrate within their corporate purpose, in addition to the objectives of profit and profit sharing, the aim of having a positive impact on society and the biosphere. 20220608_Hera Luce becomes benefit corporation FINAL.pdf 11:26:00 Economia circolare 2.jpg See the press release Economia circolare 2.jpg
Online since 08/06/2022 at 11:26
Press releases and notices
06/06/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Documentation relating to the issue of a bond published

2022-06-06 Please note that the deed of execution dated 18 May 2022 relating to the issue by Hera S.p.A. of a 500 million euro Green Bond is available to the public at its registered office, on the website www.gruppohera.it, and on the authorised storage mechanism 1INFO (www.1Info.it). 20220606_comunicato_pubblicazione Green Bond Hera_ENG.pdf 10:42:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 06/06/2022 at 10:42
Press releases and notices
17/05/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Hera Group: publication of the new Green Financing Framework

2022-05-17 The new Green Financing Framework of the Hera Group, together with the “second party opinion” released by Sustainalytics, sets out the guidelines for issuance of green bonds and for new green facility agreements. Hera is the first multiutility in Europe to publish a framework certified as being in line with the EU Taxonomy, as confirmation of the commitment of the company to “green” issues, also on the basis of the new challenging European standards The Hera Group – which pioneered sustainable finance since 2014 when it issued the first green bond in Italy – has published its new Green Financing Framework (GFF) that consolidates the transparency policy pursued by the multiutility towards the investors. Sustainability and ecological transition at the core of the new GFF The new GFF is a landmark for issuance of green bonds and for new green facility agreements related to the following areas: “Sustainable Water and Wastewater Management”, “Circular Economy and Pollution Prevention and Control” and “Energy Efficiency and Energy Infrastructure”, selected in compliance with the Green Bond Principles 2021 (GBP) published by the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) and the Green Loan Principles 2021 (GLP) published by the Loan Market Association (LMA). Furthermore, the GFF sets out the commitment shown by the Hera Group in the direction of the EU Taxonomy (Regulation 2020/852) and of the Climate Transition Finance Handbook. Consistently with the positioning characteristic of the Hera Group since its establishment and with the strategies outlined in the 2025 Business Plan, the new GFF intends to promote, also through the sustainable finance leverage, the achievement of the goals related to the ecological transition, to which the multiutility directs the development of its businesses. The “second party opinion” by Sustainalytics Sustainalytics, one of the leading independent agencies in research, sustainability analysis and ESG rating, has issued a “second party opinion” certifying the GFF consistency with the main international reference standards (the GBP of ICMA and the GLP of LMA), with the EU Taxonomy and with the Climate Transition Finance Handbook. The Hera Group is the first multiutility in Europe to publish a GFF in line with the EU Taxonomy and certified by an independent agency. 20220517 PR Green Financing Framework & SPO Hera Group.pdf 12:11:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 17/05/2022 at 12:11
Press releases and notices
12/05/2022
Shareholders’ meeting
Hera Spa

Publication of documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting

2022-05-12 Kindly note that as of today the minutes of the Shareholders Meeting held on 28 April 2022, as well as the articles of association containing the amendments approved by the Shareholders' Meeting, are available at company headquarters, on the Hera Group’s website (https://eng.gruppohera.it/group/ ) in the section dedicated to Corporate Governance, and on the authorised storage website 1INFO. We also inform that the aforementioned minutes was registered with the Companies' Register of Bologna on 10 May 2022. Press releasae publication of documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting.pdf 14:37:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 12/05/2022 at 14:37
Press releases and notices
11/05/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases
Price sensitive

Hera S.p.A. BoD appoints Orazio Iacono as CEO

2022-05-11 In today's meeting, the Board of Directors – following the resignation of CEO Stefano Venier, announced on 5 April and effective as of 26 April 2022 – appointed Orazio Iacono by co-optation as Hera S.p.A.’s new CEO, conferring on him all the related powers. Orazio Iacono, who was co-opted pursuant to Article 2386 of the Italian Civil Code and Article 17.10 of the Company’s Articles of Association, qualifies as a non-independent executive director following his appointment and, based on the information available Orazio Iacono was also appointed as a member of the Executive Committee. Mr. Iacono, 54 years old and an engineer, previously held positions with increasing responsibility in the Trenitalia Group, acting as CEO and General Manager in 2017-2020; subsequently, he worked as Senior Advisor in a leading international consulting firm and in 2021 he became Saipem’s Chief Operating Officer for Sustainable Infrastructures. His full curriculum vitae is available on the company’s website, at www.gruppohera.it (Governance/CdA section). 20220511_nomina AD.pdf 14:05:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 11/05/2022 at 14:05
Press releases and notices
11/05/2022
Financial Results
Hera Spa
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera Board of Directors approves Q1 2022 results

2022-05-11 The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March shows growth in revenues and Ebitda, proving the solidity and resilience of the Hera Group’s business model even in this difficult economic context. The Group confirms its commitment to sustainable development, with a strategic approach aimed at creating value for all stakeholders, starting from the local areas and communities it serves. Financial highlights Revenues at 5,312 million euro (+133.8%) Ebitda at 374.0 million euro (+3.3%) Net profits at 137.8 million euro (-1.8%) Net debt at 3,455.2 million euro, with net debt/Ebitda ratio at 2.8x Operating highlights Good contribution to growth comes from the main businesses, in particular the energy sectors and the waste management area Further development of initiatives for the ecological transition and the circular economy, thanks to state-of-the-art plants and increasingly green services Solid energy customer base, with approximately 3.5 million customers Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated results for the first quarter of 2022. Despite the fact that the results for the first quarter of 2022 were achieved against the backdrop of an extraordinarily difficult international scenario, marked by energy market volatility and geopolitical conflicts, Hera’s management policies – based on its solid and resilient business model – proved to be effective and enabled it to show further growth in results. Following up on the indications contained in the Business Plan to 2025, the Group thus continues to create value for stakeholders while ensuring, at the same time, quality and continuity in services. The results achieved are all the more remarkable considering that they fully offset the negative impact of Arera’s Resolution 614/2021 concerning a reduction in returns on capital invested in regulated activities (WACC). As regards changes in the scope of operations, compared to March 2021 two companies were integrated in the waste management area, which contribute to increasing the commercial presence in central-northern Italy: Recycla, a 70% owned company from Friuli that manages three platforms for industrial waste, and the Vallortigara Group, 80% owned, which provides services to industries, public administrations and citizens and manages a multifunctional platform for special waste treatment. The energy areas now benefit from 100% ownership of Atlas Utilities, through its Bulgarian subsidiary Ares Gas, and of the Abruzzo-based company Eco Gas, 90% owned by Hera Comm. Also note that Hera Comm was awarded the graduated protection service for electricity supply to SMEs in 9 regions of Italy. As regards regulated services, in November 2021 Atersir definitively awarded the Hera Group the tender for the concession of the integrated water service for 24 municipalities in the province of Rimini, including the capital, with a contract worth approximately 1.7 billion euro. The Hera Group, which was also the outgoing manager, will therefore be responsible for this service from 2022 to 2039. A few weeks later, lastly, Atersir definitively awarded the Hera Group, for a period of time covering 15 years, the tenders for the municipal waste collection services in the Modena and Bologna areas, with a total scope of 1.5 million inhabitants and a value coming to over 2.5 billion. Revenues at roughly 5.3 billion euro (+133.8%) In the first quarter of 2022, revenues amounted to 5,312.0 million euro, up sharply from 2,271.8 million euro seen in the same period one year earlier. The energy sectors in particular contributed to this result, showing significant growth due to increased trading and the rise in commodity prices, as well as higher volumes of gas sold as a result of new lots won in tenders and lower winter temperatures. In addition, growth in energy services was related to energy efficiency in residential buildings (insulation bonus and 110% tax super-bonus) and increased activities for value-added services for customers. Revenues from the waste management sector were also up, mainly due to energy production, higher prices in the recovery market and new acquisitions in the industrial market. Lastly, revenues from network services increased, both regulated and for third parties, as did revenues from the public lighting service. Ebitda rises to 374.0 million euro (+3.3%) Ebitda went from 362.0 million euro in the first three months of 2021 to 374.0 million euro at 31 March 2022, up 12.0 million euro (+3.3%). The main contributions to this result came from the energy area, up by a total of 6.1 million euro, and the waste management area, up 8.1 million euro, offsetting the slight drop in the other services area. In particular, the activities managed concerning the ecological transition and circular economy were decisive, including energy efficiency services developed for condominiums, a reinforcement of value-added services in the energy sector (from “green” supply to sales and installation of LED devices, smart boilers and thermostats, and energy diagnostics) and the regeneration of resources, through Group subsidiary Aliplast. Operating result and pre-tax profit down slightly Operating results amounted to 220.1 million euro at 31 March 2022, down 1.3% from the 223.1 million euro seen in the first quarter of 2021, mainly due to higher amortisation and depreciation due to changes in the scope of consolidation and higher provisions for bad debts mainly attributable to both last resort and traditional markets as well as the graduated protection service. Financial operations at 31 March 2022 were mainly unchanged, at 29.5 million, compared to 28.8 million euro seen in the first quarter of 2021. This change was caused by lower income from late payment indemnities, partially offset by lower financial charges on long-term debt resulting from debt optimisations. Pre-tax profit amounted to 190.6 million euro, slightly down from 194.3 million euro at 31 March 2021 (-1.9%). Net profit at 137.8 million euro Thanks to a tax rate coming to 27.7%, quite similar to the 27.8% rate of the previous year, net profit stood at 137.8 million euro, as against 140.3 million euro in the first quarter of 2021. Profit pertaining to the Group’s shareholders amounted to 126.5 million euro, down from 132.2 million euro at 31 March 2021, due to an increase in the portion attributable to minority shareholders. Strong growth in operating investments and Group solidity reinforced The Group’s operating investments, including capital grants, amounted to 129.2 million euro, up 11.1% compared to the previous year, and mainly involved work on plants, networks and infrastructures. In addition, regulatory upgrading was carried out, mainly in the gas distribution sector with a large-scale meter replacement, and in the purification and sewerage sector. Net financial debt went from 3,261.3 million euro at 31 December 2021 to 3,455.2 million euro at 31 March 2022, mainly due to a change in net working capital, which increased as a result of the energy scenario and the impact of interventions on “rising bills” also in terms of payment by instalments. The net debt/Ebitda ratio remained substantially stable, at 2.8x, confirming the company’s financial solidity. Gas As regards the gas area – which includes distribution and sales of natural gas, district heating and energy services – Ebitda rose to 201.4 million, showing an increase of 22.9 million, or 12.9%, compared to 31 March 2021. This was mainly due to the increased sales and incentivised energy efficiency activities and district heating. The first quarter of 2022 therefore showed significant growth compared to the same period of 2021, both in terms of margins and volumes sold, thanks to the results achieved in energy efficiency incentives and the 17 lots awarded nationwide to Hera Comm through tenders, including: 6 lots of the last resort gas service in 12 regions of Italy, 9 lots of the default gas distribution service in 19 regions and 2 lots of the Consip GAS14 tender for the supply of natural gas to Public Administrations in Lombardy region. The number of gas customers came to almost 2.1 million, up 1.7% compared to the previous year. The gas area accounted for 53.9% of Group Ebitda. Electricity Ebitda for the electricity area – which includes electricity generation, distribution and sales services – amounted to 30.4 million euro, down compared to the same period of 2021 owing to the different conditions of energy markets in relation to procurement (higher raw material prices) and a lower contribution from generation (less use of the market by dispatching services as a result of normalised conditions in the areas served by the generation plants). At Group level, margins from sales and trading did not witness significant changes overall traceable to the extraordinary situation of energy commodity prices, thanks to the effectiveness of hedging policies and the management of these risks. Also note the positive result coming from commercial growth in free market customers, supported by innovative offers, value-added services and improved customer experience. In addition, Hera Comm Spa was awarded through a tender, for the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024, the graduated protection service for the supply of electricity to SMEs in nine Italian regions, corresponding to three allocation lots in the national tender called by the Single Buyer. The customer base also continued to grow in the electricity area, reaching almost 1.4 million (+5.3%). This growth occurred on the free market, both as a result of the reinforced commercial actions implemented, accounting for roughly 30 thousand customers, and the graduated protection service awarded, with approximately 37.3 thousand customers. The safeguarded market was also up compared to the same period of the previous year. Alongside the above-mentioned trend, an increase was seen in the number of customers subscribing to value-added services, with approximately 22.5 thousand customers, up 46% compared to the previous year, demonstrating the growing loyalty of the Group’s customer base. The electricity area accounted for 8.1% of Group Ebitda. Water cycle In the first quarter of 2022, the integrated water cycle area – which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services – rose from 55 million euro in the first quarter of 2021 to 55.5 million euro in the first quarter of 2022 (+0.8%), thanks in particular to the contribution coming from higher revenues for new connections. In the first quarter of 2022, investments made in the water cycle area, including capital grants, rose to over 43 million euro (28.3 million euro in the aqueduct, 8.5 million euro in sewerage and 6.6 million euro in purification), mainly involving extensions, reclamation and upgrades on networks and plants, as well as regulatory compliance, especially in the purification and sewerage sectors. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 14.8% of Group Ebitda. Waste management Ebitda for the waste management area – which includes waste collection, treatment and recovery services – increased by 8.1 million euro compared to the same period in 2021, rising to 78.9 million euro at 31 March 2022 (+11.4%), as against 70.8 million euro in the first quarter of 2021. Thanks to its set of plants, which continues to be a distinctive strategic asset on the market, the Group was able to seize opportunities for growth, confirming its ability to react with great resilience to the current market context. In particular, waste treatment contributed to this growth, reaching Ebitda coming to 61 million euro, up 20.8% compared to the 50.5 million euro seen one year earlier. In Italy, the progressive increase in the cost of energy and the difficulties in finding raw materials that began in late 2021 led to a slowdown in production in many manufacturing sectors during the early months of 2022, with repercussions in waste production. Nevertheless, the Group was able to expand its market share in industrial waste treatment, also benefiting from the larger scope of operations ensuing from the M&A transactions mentioned above. Aliplast’s commercial growth in the recovery market continued, due to price increases in all sectors resulting from the high value of virgin polymer and strong market demand, and its consolidated leadership in other markets in which the Group is active. The Hera Group operates in the complete waste cycle, with over 90 plants for municipal and special waste treatment and plastic materials regeneration. The main plants include: 9 waste-to-energy plants, 12 composting/digestion plants and 15 sorting plants. The close attention paid to plants has always been a distinctive element of the Group’s propensity for excellence: indeed, operations are ongoing to provide plants with the best available technologies and to complete the revamping of two waste-to-energy plants, one in Trieste and one in Ravenna. Thanks to the in-depth operational skills possessed by the Group and the other companies in the tender-winning RTIs, the areas served will be equipped with collection models having innovative services and equipment, with a strong focus on sustainability, waste reduction and an increase in recycled materials. The waste management area accounted for 21.1% of Group Ebitda Profit & Loss (mln €) 31/03/2022 Inc.% 31/03/2021 Inc.% Ch. Ch.% Sales 5,312.0 2,271.8 +3,040.2 +133.8% Other operating revenues 100.7 1.9% 100.7 4.4% +0.0 +0.0% Raw material (4,307.8) (81.1%) (1,209.7) (53.2%) +3,098.1 +256.1% Services costs (573.3) (10.8%) (646.9) (28.5%) (73.6) (11.4%) Other operating expenses (17.2) (0.3%) (17.1) (0.8%) +0.1 +0.6% Personnel costs (154.5) (2.9%) (150.1) (6.6%) +4.4 +2.9% Capitalisations 14.1 0.3% 13.3 0.6% +0.8 +6.0% Ebitda 374.0 7.0% 362.0 15.9% +12.0 +3.3% Depreciation and provisions (153.9) (2.9%) (138.9) (6.1%) +15.0 +10.8% Ebit 220.1 4.1% 223.1 9.8% (3.0) (1.3%) Financial inc./(exp.) (29.5) (0.6%) (28.8) (1.3%) +0.7 +2.4% Pre tax profit 190.6 3.6% 194.3 8.6% (3.7) (1.9%) Taxes (52.8) (1.0%) (54.0) (2.4%) (1.2) (2.2%) Net profit 137.8 2.6% 140.3 6.2% (2.5) (1.8%) Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 126.5 2.4% 132.2 5.8% (5.7) (4.3%) Minority shareholders 11.3 0.2% 8.1 0.4% +3.2 +39.3% Balance Sheet (mln €) 31/03/2022 Inc.% 31/12/2021 Inc.% Ch. Ch.% Net fixed assets 7,294.8 103.4% 7,308.0 109.4% (13.2) (0.2%) Working capital 398.9 5.6% 3.5 0.1% +395.4 +11,297.1% (Provisions) (637.2) (9.0%) (633.4) (9.5%) (3.8) +0.6% Net invested capital 7,056.5 100.0% 6,678.1 100.0% +378.4 +5.7% Net equity 3,601.3 51.0% 3,416.8 51.2% +184.5 +5.4% Long term net financial debt 3,644.6 51.7% 3,633.1 54.4% +11.5 +0.3% Short term net financial debt (189.4) (2.7%) (371.8) (5.6%) +182.4 (49.1%) Net financial debts 3,455.2 49.0% 3,261.3 48.8% +193.9 +5.9% Net invested capital 7,056.5 100.0% 6,678.1 100.0% +378.4 +5.7% Press release Q1 2022.pdf 14:02:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 11/05/2022 at 14:02
05/05/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases
Price sensitive

Hera Group: over 2.2 billion euro distributed to local areas in 2021

2022-05-05 Hera continues to create shared value by focusing on the principles underlying a “fair transition” and is able to support the communities it serves in achieving sustainable development. For the first time, the Sustainability Report also provides information on activities consistent with the EU taxonomy Setting challenging goals, growing and innovating by creating value for stakeholders and reporting the results achieved in a clear and transparent way: all of this has always guided Hera’s actions. It also includes protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development, and the Group has summarised it in its 2021 Sustainability Report, now available online (http://bs.gruppohera.it). Industrial growth and sustainable development, therefore, go hand in hand, nourishing one another. In full harmony with Brussels and the main international policies, Hera continues to take determined steps towards bringing about a “fair transition”. This model puts people at its centre and translates into a gradual process, planned so as not to leave anyone behind. On the contrary, it is designed to accompany the local areas served towards a more environmentally sustainable future, and also one that can concretely be achieved from an economic and social point of view. One of the most important new features of the 2021 Sustainability Report is the information provided for the first time concerning activities consistent with the European Union’s taxonomy, with particular reference to the objectives of mitigating and adapting to climate change, thus anticipating regulatory obligations that will only come into force in 2023. Creating value together with the communities served: more than 2.2 billion euro distributed to local areas The Group’s sustainable growth also involves the surrounding economic and social fabric, as is proven by the over 2.2 billion euro distributed in 2021 to the areas served. Hera guarantees them continuity and efficiency in its services, with significant investments made in innovating the infrastructure assets that will be decisive in facing the climate-related challenges of the coming years. Moreover, the total economic value for stakeholders rose to over 2.9 billion euro, including workers (592.8 million), shareholders (217.9 million), public administrations (115.1 million), and approximately 1.2 billion relating to suppliers. Shared value Ebitda rises to 570.6 million One of the most important results reported is shared value Ebitda, referring to business activities that also respond to the drivers of sustainable growth. This figure rose to 570.6 million, a significant increase over 2020 (+25.4%), corresponding to 46.6% of total Ebitda. This is a sign that the positive economic results achieved are accompanied by Hera’s increasing focus on sustainability, a result in line with the trajectory marked out by the Business Plan, which projects this value at 55.6% of total Ebitda by 2025, rising to 70% in 2030. Three main drivers guide this commitment: pursuing carbon neutrality, regenerating resources and closing the loop, and enabling resilience and innovation. Pursuing carbon neutrality For Hera, working on energy means first and foremost pursuing carbon neutrality. Overall, the actions taken by the Group move towards the energy transition and promote energy efficiency. Given that the concentration of greenhouse gases, largely caused by fossil fuels, continues to have a negative impact on the increase in the planet’s temperature, in the field of energy transition and renewable energy the Hera Group continues its commitment to producing increasingly sustainable energy sources. One particularly successful initiative is the S. Agata Bolognese plant, which in 2021 produced 8 million cubic metres of biomethane by transforming the organic waste derived from sorted waste collection coming from citizens, 22% more than in 2019. The goal, to be reached by developing new projects including one in the Modena area thanks to a partnership with the Cremonini Group, is to double the production of biomethane, reaching 16.8 million cubic metres per year in 2025. The relevance of the second area, energy efficiency, must also be considered in relation to the complex international scenarios for the supply and cost of energy, and the role that renewables will play in the sustainable future. The policy to increase the energy efficiency of Hera’s activities will continue, as is borne out by the ISO 50001 certification on energy management obtained for 11 Group companies, where 96% of the entire company’s energy consumption takes place. The Hera Group also supplies renewable electricity to all residential customers on the free market, and when considering all types of customers (residential and non-residential) the total renewable electricity sold on the free market rises from 33% to 40%. Finally, the Group is committed to improving the energy efficiency of condominiums, companies and public administrations, reaching important results, with savings of up to 20-40% of consumption. Regenerating resources and closing the loop No less challenging is the issue of the environment, a front on which Hera is working to regenerate natural resources and closing the loop to promote a more effective use of them. In concrete terms, this means going beyond a linear model to achieve the circular economy. This is the case with municipal waste management: in the areas served by the Group, the EU objective of a 55% waste recycling rate by 2025 has already been achieved, as has the 73% recycling rate for packaging (higher than the EU objective for 2030). This result is due to another important fact: the average sorted waste collection rate comes to 65.3%, higher than the national average for the sector. Moreover, among the 10 most virtuous Italian cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, as regards sorted waste collection per capita, 4 are managed by Hera, with Ferrara leading the national ranking in terms of percentage of sorted waste collection. And waste is not the only factor involved. Closing the loop is a rationale that is applied across the board, such as in the sustainable management of water resources. Here, we’re talking about 414 million cubic metres supplied down to the last cubic metre, of the highest quality. To make this possible, one must have an excellent set of plants. One example is the Val di Setta drinking water plant, in Bologna area, which has obtained AWS (Alliance for Water Stewardship) certification, an acknowledgement received by Hera as the world’s leading multi-utility. But attention and protection occur first and foremost from within the Group, which in 2021, for example, achieved a reduction of approximately 17% in its internal water consumption, compared to 2017. Enabling resilience and innovation Hera operates locally to enable resilience and innovate, following a rationale of adaptation aimed at guaranteeing, among other things, continuity in services and the availability of resources, by extending infrastructures in the areas served through smart plants and networks. In this context, in line with international policies, digitisation and innovation in activities plays a key role, supported by an investment of 82 million euros in 2021 alone, with projects that involve not only the Group but also the local communities, helping them move towards the digital transition. Making communities more resilient also means working to promote social inclusion. For this reason, in 2021, almost 200,000 bills were paid in instalments, for a total value of 126.8 million euro. In February 2022, in order to consider the situation ensuing from the increase in commodity prices, Hera signed an agreement with consumer associations, in addition to national regulations, to go even further in helping customers in difficulty. 20220505_PR Sustainability report 2021.pdf 11:07:00 See the press release sede Hera 110x150.jpg
Online since 05/05/2022 at 11:07
Press releases and notices
28/04/2022
Shareholders’ meeting
Hera Spa
Price sensitive

Hera Shareholders Meeting: 2021 financial statements and dividend rising to 12 cents approved

2022-04-28 On the twentieth anniversary of its foundation, the Group continues along the path of growth that has distinguished it since its establishment, confirming its commitment to sustainable development by creating value for the areas served and all stakeholders The ordinary and extraordinary Shareholders Meeting of Hera met this morning in Bologna to approve the 2021 financial statements and the payment of a dividend increasing to 12 cents per share (+9% compared to the last dividend paid), as further confirmation of the value created for stakeholders and local areas. Among the various resolutions passed, the Shareholders Meeting also approved an amendment to the Articles of Association, in compliance with the content of the new Corporate Governance Code. At the Shareholders Meeting, the 2021 Sustainability Report (a consolidated non-financial statement prepared pursuant to Legislative Decree 254/2016) was also presented. Financial statements for 2021 approved, with growth in results In the ordinary session, the Shareholders Meeting approved the 2021 financial statements, which showed growth in all main operating and financial indicators. Among the main results: Ebitda rose to 1,223.9 million euro (+9%) and net profit attributable to shareholders reached 333.5 million euro (+10.2%). Operating investments, including capital grants, amounted to 588.7 million euro (+16.3%), while net financial debt stood at 3,261.3 million euro, in line with the 3,227.0 million euro seen at 31 December 2020. The net debt/Ebitda ratio improved to 2.66x, confirming the Group’s financial solidity. These figures testify, once again, to the validity of the multi-business strategy adopted by the Group: a balanced mix of internal and external growth, with significant economies of scale and the extraction of higher synergies than expected, to the benefit of the local areas in which Hera operates. Despite the complex scenario, due to the ongoing Coronavirus emergency, in addition to the volatility of the energy market during the second half of the year, further progress occurred along the path of uninterrupted growth achieved by the Group, led since its creation in 2002 by Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano. In twenty years, in fact, Ebitda has increased more than sixfold and net profit has grown more than tenfold. In addition to achieving positive results, Hera has also constantly pursued sustainable development, supporting its stakeholders, first and foremost its customers, with concrete actions such as instalment plans for bills to enable them to meet their payments. Payment of a 12 cent/share dividend introduced The Shareholders Meeting also approved the Board of Directors’ proposal to pay a dividend coming to 12 cents per share, up 9% compared to the last dividend paid. The ex-dividend date was set at 20 June 2022, with payment as of 22 June 2022. The dividend will be paid to shares recorded on 21 June 2022. The dividend paid, based on the Hera share price at 31/12/2021, corresponds to a 3.3% annual return. A strong focus on creating value for shareholders was therefore confirmed. This increase is consistent with the dividend policy set out in the Business Plan, which foresees a steady increase in dividends, reaching 14.5 cents per share by 2025. The Sustainability Report: Shared value Ebitda rises to 570.6 million During the Shareholders Meeting, the 2021 Sustainability Report was also presented, showing how improvement in operating and financial indicators goes hand in hand with creating shared value. More specifically, in 2021, shared value Ebitda, referring to business activities that also meet the drivers for sustainable growth, rose to 570.6 million euro, a significant increase compared to 2020 (+25.4%), corresponding to 46.6% of total Ebitda. This result reflects the direction set out in the Business Plan, which projects this figure at 55% of total Ebitda by 2025, rising to 70% in 2030, along a linear path that generates concrete benefits for the local areas and communities served, alongside the company’s own development. Articles of Association adapted to the new Borsa Italiana Corporate Governance Code The extraordinary agenda items approved by the Shareholders Meeting include an amendment of Article 17 of Hera’s Articles of Association, in compliance with the content of the new Corporate Governance Code, following a close analysis of international developments in corporate governance. In particular, the recommendation that administrative bodies should include a number of independent directors coming to at least half of the members of the Board of Directors was implemented. Therefore, with the reformulation of paragraph 17.3 of the Articles of Association, it is clearly stated that, within each list presented, at least half of the candidates must meet independence requirements. Other resolutions approved The Shareholders Meeting also approved a renewed authorisation for the Board of Directors to purchase treasury shares (and the procedures for their treatment), for a total value of up to 240 million euro for 18 months, at the same time revoking last year’s resolution for the non-executed part. The renewal of authorisation to use treasury shares was requested in order to pursue the purposes permitted by law and accepted market practices, in order to increase value creation in transactions carried out by Group companies as well, for whom investment opportunities arise, and for transactions involving the issue of financial instruments. Lastly, the Shareholders Meeting approved the Report on remuneration policy and compensation paid, in line with international best practices, and the Corporate governance report was also presented. “Over the Group’s twenty-year history, we have pursued a path marked by constant growth, leveraging our operating-financial solidity, with positive repercussions for all stakeholders, first and foremost our shareholders”, states Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. “We will continue to guarantee the highest quality and efficiency in our services, despite the complexities of the external scenario, as done for twenty years working concretely and coherently with the values that have always distinguished us. We are therefore carrying on with our commitment to further developing a highly innovative and original business model, capable of acting as a real driver of change for the local areas and communities we serve, with a strategic approach aimed at creating shared value.” 20220428_PR_HERA Shareholders meeting.pdf 11:48:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 28/04/2022 at 11:48
Press releases and notices
26/04/2022
Price sensitive
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Appointment of the CEO of Hera S.p.A.

2022-04-26 As regards the appointment, by the Mayor of Bologna, of Mr. Orazio Iacono as member of the Board of Directors of Hera S.p.A., indicating him for the position of CEO, the company declares that it has begun the internal procedures necessary to convene the Board of Directors meeting for his co-optation. The appointment of the new CEO will therefore occur in accordance with the provisions of the Shareholders Agreement to which the public shareholders adhere. The Executive Chairman of the Hera Group, Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, congratulates Mr. Orazio Iacono on his appointment and wishes him every success in his future professional role. 20220426 CEO Appointment.pdf 19:37:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 26/04/2022 at 19:37
Press releases and notices
22/04/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Aeroporti di Roma increasingly “circular” with the Hera Group

2022-04-22 A protocol has been signed to implement environmental sustainability and circular economy initiatives, reducing waste, recovering resources and optimising the water cycle to reduce sludge and losses Bologna, Fiumicino, 22 April 2022 - A protocol to jointly assess joint initiatives in favour of sustainability and a circular approach to the management of Fiumicino and Ciampino airports: this is the focus of the protocol signed by Aeroporti di Roma - the company that runs both of the capital’s hubs - and the Hera Group, one of the main multi-utility companies in Italy. The areas of intervention of the agreement, valid for two years, concern the management of waste, the treatment of waste water in the airport purification plant and the optimisation of water network management. Actions to make the first airport hub in Italy, the seventh in Europe, increasingly sustainable. The hub’s commitment has already been recognised by ACI Europe, which awarded Fiumicino excellence as the best airport in Europe for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020. In terms of circular economy, “Leonardo da Vinci” airport boasts a separate waste collection that has amounted to 99% and, in the last 10 years, the consumption of drinking water for each passenger assisted has been reduced by approximately 30%, thanks to a dual distribution network system that ensures the reuse of “recycled” water for all uses for which drinking water is not necessary: irrigation, fire prevention, etc. The Hera Group will make its experience and commitment available in terms of the circular economy and the recovery of resources that have distinguished it since its inception. Concrete projects to reduce waste, the production of waste and increase its recovery As regards waste, the main objective is to define guidelines to improve the recovery and reuse of waste produced at the airport, identifying the best solutions to manage the main types of waste, minimising environmental impacts and optimising economic management. This will be achieved by studying any new operational and management processes to further develop separate collection, also involving staff, suppliers and passengers, recover the waste produced (especially used oils, plastic and organic products), reduce the production of waste that cannot be recovered, adopt systems for the recovery of food surpluses produced by airport catering, thus reducing waste and giving new value to uneaten food. Reduction of sludge produced in the purification process and water losses The water system of the airports is also the subject of the agreement, in order to assess the possible optimisations to be made to the purifier in a circular economy perspective, facilitating processes that enable the reduction of sludge produced by the waste water purification process (such as, for example, through the installation of dryers to reduce weight and volume) and assessing the possibility of recovering material. Systems are also being studied to optimise the management of water networks, to prevent and limit losses with a view to increasingly virtuous water management, including with the use of advanced sensors and artificial intelligence systems. “We continue along the path of environmental transition by co-opting the best national excellence” said Marco Troncone, CEO of ADR “by launching, today, a partnership with the Hera Group, a key player, amongst other things, in the circular economy. The scope of action will be concrete and focused on areas in which ADR already performs high, such as waste management and the water cycle, but on which we intend to reach levels of excellence with the support of a recognised specialist leader.” “This agreement with Aeroporti di Roma is a virtuous example of how a partnership between companies can be a driver of sustainability with positive effects for the environment. Sustainability accompanies and permeates all of our activities and we want to share our experience in this area with the people who operate in the communities, further strengthening our commitment to the circular economy and the regeneration of resources” commented Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group. 20220422 PR Roma Airports and Hera Group.pdf 11:02:00 immagine.jpg See the press release immagine.jpg
Online since 22/04/2022 at 11:02
Press releases and notices
21/04/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases
Price sensitive

Elior and the Hera Group sign a pact for sustainability

2022-04-21 The country’s leading catering company and the Emilia-Romagna based multi-utility have forged a circular economy partnership Elior, Italy’s foremost catering company, and the Hera Group, one of the nation’s main multi-utilities, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on projects geared towards the circular economy, environmental sustainability and sustainable mobility. The agreement, presented on Earth Day, 22 April, will be valid for two years and will unfold by gradually implementing a series of environmental actions and initiatives, starting with catering outlets located mainly in the areas served by Hera, and later gradually extending the scope of action to other regions. Sustainable mobility, circular economy and environmental sustainability pilot projects launche Faced with the economic, environmental and social changes currently underway, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to join forces and work on common objectives. The circular economy is a key element for both companies, who have set themselves the goal of working together to ensure maximum value for resources, with a sustainable approach integrated into their business strategies. With this agreement, Elior and Hera are thus launching a collaboration that will start with specific pilot projects, particularly in the field of sustainable mobility, the circular economy and environmental sustainability. The organic waste produced in catering outlets can be used to produce biomethane and compost in the Hera Group’s S. Agata Bolognese (BO) plant, while separately collected exhausted vegetable oils (those that remain at the end of food preparation, for frying or to preserve food) can be used to produce biodiesel, thanks to the partnership signed by Hera with Eni. Furthermore, electric vehicle recharging points may be built. The two companies will evaluate collaborations involving projects for recycling and reusing the plastic used in catering outlets and for preventing waste production, making the most of any waste. Hera will also be able to provide support on how to sort and treat the waste produced. Lastly, extensive environmental communication campaigns will be developed jointly, dedicated for both employees and customers. The figures in question are significant: in Italy, over 95 million meals are prepared every year by Elior, with 10 thousand people working in more than 2 thousand restaurants and sales points. Constant attention to sustainability Elior dedicates constant attention to sustainability, as certified, for example, by its membership in the Global Compact, the United Nations programme fostering corporate social responsibility, to create a virtuous circle in the area of catering by working in synergy with suppliers, customers, end users and employees. As regards the Hera Group, it has always been committed to sustainably developing the areas it serves, thanks to active communication with local communities and cooperation with stakeholders. Hera will bring all its experience in the field of waste management to this partnership: it is the leading national operator in terms of the amount of waste treated, and in 2021 it reached over 65% in sorted waste collection (with a recovery rate of over 90%), serving more than 180 municipalities and 3.2 million citizens, meeting years in advance the targets set by the European Union for the general and specific recycling rates for packaging and the use of landfills. Moreover, Hera was the first utility, and the second company in Italy, to join the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which brings together the companies most active globally in the transition to the circular economy. “The transition towards a circular economy is a challenge made up of many actions implemented on an ongoing basis, and this agreement with Elior is one further example”, comments Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group. “Another step towards achieving concrete results, it allows us to share our experience in the field of sustainability and further strengthen a commitment that accompanies all our work.” “A commitment to making our daily activities more sustainable is a priority in our business strategy. This is why we aim to involve all our stakeholders in activating virtuous processes capable of reducing waste of all kinds, thanks to circular economy mechanisms”, adds Rosario Ambrosino, CEO of Elior. “The collaboration with Hera that we are presenting today is an excellent example of this approach, and we are confident that the pilot projects we are launching together can lead to significant results which benefit the community.” 20220421 PR Elior and Hera Group partnership.pdf 11:31:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 21/04/2022 at 11:31
Press releases and notices
21/04/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Gridspertise and the Hera Group launch collaboration for the smart grid of the future

2022-04-21 The agreement aims to synergize the data collected by the networks in the gas-electricity multiservice area The results of this collaboration could be of interest to multi-utility companies also at an international level Bologna/Rome, April 21st, 2022 - Gridspertise, the Enel Group’s subsidiary dedicated to the digital transformation of electricity grids, and the Hera Group, one of Italy’s largest multi-utilities, have signed a collaboration agreement aimed at developing the smart grids of the future through a state-of-the-art integrated system for the collection and measurement of data collected from the electricity and gas distribution networks in a multi-utility environment. The two companies are therefore combining the know-how they have developed in their various areas of expertise to achieve technical synergies in the field of network digitalization. The results of this collaboration may be of interest to multi-utility companies also abroad, thus projecting the technological excellence conceived and developed in our country on international markets. In particular, the agreement provides for the testing of an integrated data collection system used by the Hera Group’s gas devices and Gridspertise’s smart meters for electric networks. The integration tests in the gas-electricity multiservice area will be carried out in Italy on the network managed by Inrete Distribuzione Energia, the natural gas and electricity distribution company of the Hera Group. The Hera Group will be able to rely, in particular, on its experience in the field of smart gas meters, which has led it to patent the NexMeter advanced meter, the best of its kind at international level for its cutting-edge technology and safety functions, also in terms of reducing gas dispersion into the atmosphere. Gridspertise will put its most innovative solutions for integrated measurement data management at the service of the development of new smart and sustainable grids to accelerate the digital transformation of electricity infrastructure elements. In particular, in recent months the company has concluded agreements with the Hera Group for the supply of 435,000 smart meters and concentrators, as well as an innovative remote management system that will be used in the experimentation. The result is a package of network management solutions using the facilitation of the energy transition as a key element. Based on the results of the trial, the two companies will consider joint participation in future tenders, also including those held outside the national territory, in which the sale of hardware and software solutions for gas and electricity metering will be envisaged. At a later stage, this collaboration may also extend to solutions concerning the integrated water cycle, both in terms of measurement and smart water grids. 20220421 CS Gridspertise_Hera.pdf 12:19:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 21/04/2022 at 12:19
Press releases and notices
13/04/2022
Hera Spa
Other press releases

Clarification regarding the resignation of the CEO of Hera S.p.A.

2022-04-13 In addition to the information provided on 5 April 2022, Hera S.p.A., as requested by Consob, states the following: CEO Stefano Venier has resigned from his office, effective as of 26 April 2022, following the acceptance of his candidacy as a director having the specific professional skills for the office of CEO in another listed company; no severance pay has been established in his favour, except for what is provided for by current regulations regarding the termination of employment; on 5 April 2022, all powers pertaining to the CEO were temporarily assigned by the Board of Directors of Hera S.p.A. to the Executive Chairman, effective as of 26 April 2022; the appointment of the new CEO, an expression of the majority list submitted by the public shareholders of Hera S.p.A., will take place on the basis of the provisions of the Shareholders Agreement to which they adhere. 20220413 Clarification regarding the resignation of the CEO.pdf 16:39:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 13/04/2022 at 16:39
Press releases and notices
07/04/2022
Shareholders’ meeting
Hera Spa

Communication of the overall amount of voting rights

2022-04-07 Bologna, 7 April 2022 – The following table contains the data concerning the shares outstanding and the number of voting rights representing the share capital as at 31 March 2022. Updated situation Previous situation Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Total, of which: 1,489,538,745 2,229,351,858 1,489,538,745 2,229,451,858 Ordinary shares (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2021) – cod. ISIN IT0001250932 Current coupon: n. 20 749,725,632 749,725,632 749,625,632 749,625,632 Ordinary shares with increased voting rights (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2021) – cod. ISIN IT0005159972 Current coupon: n. 20 739,813,113 1,479,626,226 739,913,113 1,479,826,226 04_2022 Communication-overall-amount-of-voting-rights-art-85-bis.pdf 10:49:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 07/04/2022 at 10:49
Press releases and notices
06/04/2022
Shareholders’ meeting
Financial Results
Hera Spa
Price sensitive

Publication of the draft Separate and consolidated financial statements as at 31/12/2021, the Sustainability report – consolidated non-financial statement and Shareholders meeting documentation

2022-04-06 Kindly note that the following documents, approved by the Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors, have been made available to the public at company headquarters, on the website https://eng.gruppohera.it/ and on the authorised storage platform 1INFO (www.1Info.it): folder containing the draft Separate and consolidated financial statements at 31.12.2021 Sustainability report – consolidated non-financial statement drafted pursuant to L. Decree 254/2016. In the same way, the reports of the Board of Directors on the issues at items 3 and 4 on the AGM’s agenda as well as the Group’s Report on the remuneration policy and fees paid and the 2021 Corporate Governance Report are also available. 06042022 Press release Financial Statements-DNF FY21.pdf 15:56:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 06/04/2022 at 15:56
Press releases and notices
05/04/2022
Other press releases
Hera Spa

Resignation of the CEO of Hera S.p.A.

2022-04-05 The Board of Directors of Hera S.p.A., after meeting today, acknowledged the resignation of Stefano Venier as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, formally presented on 4 April 2022. His resignation will become effective on 26 April 2022, and on the same date all his other positions related to the board will cease. For his replacement, the appropriate bodies have already begun to act, according to the procedures provided for by the Articles of Association. Note that Stefano Venier does not hold any shares in the Company. The Board of Directors would like to thank Stefano Venier, who has worked for Hera S.p.A. since 2004, for the important work he has done over the years, working alongside the top management and the entire organisation, and wishes him the utmost success in his new professional career. Press release AD Venier.pdf 13:09:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg See the press release Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg
Online since 05/04/2022 at 13:09
Press releases and notices
28/03/2022
M&A
Other press releases

Publication of documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting to be held on 28 April 2022

2022-03-28 Kindly note that the following documentation, pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting convened for 28 April 2022, is available to the public at the Company headquarters, on the authorised storage website 1INFO Kindly note that the following documentation, pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting convened for 28 April 2022, is available to the public at the Company headquarters, on the authorised storage website 1INFO (www.1Info.it) and on Hera Group’s website : - Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 1 on the Agenda – Extraordinary session - Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 2 on the Agenda – Ordinary session - Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 5 on the Agenda – Ordinary session - Hera S.p.A. Board of Directors’ Explanatory Report regarding item 6 on the Agenda – Ordinary session Publication of documents pertaining to the Shareholders Meeting of 28 April 2022.pdf 15:06:00 Nuova_Palazzina_110x150.1533218221.jpg Download the Press release sede_Gruppo110.1534760363.jpg
Press releases and notices
23/03/2022
Price sensitive
Hera Spa
Financial Results

Hera Group approves results at 31/12/2021

2022-03-23 The year ended positively, with all operating and financial indicators up compared to 2020. Financial solidity, the pursuit of sustainable development and the value creation for local communities served all confirming the strong track record, enabling Hera to stand by its stakeholders and provide support. Proposed dividend revised upwards, now set at 12 cents per share Financial highlights • Revenues at 10,555.3‬ million euro (+49.1%) • Ebitda at 1,223.9 million euro (+9.0%) • Net profits for Shareholders at 333.5 million euro (+10.2%) • Net debt at 3,261.3 million euro, net debt/Ebitda improves to 2.66x • Proposed dividend increases to 12 cents per share (+9%) Operating highlights • Positive results from both internal and external growth • Significant contributions from the gas area, energy services and the waste management sector • Approximately 3.5 million customers in the energy sectors • Improvement in all sustainability indicators, with shared value Ebitda rising sharply to 570.6 million euro (+25.4%) Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated economic results at 31 December 2021 and the Report on remuneration policies and compensation paid, along with the Sustainability report. 20 years of uninterrupted growth, thanks to good operational, financial and fiscal management. The Hera Group closed the year 2021 with positive results, despite the complex scenario seen in Italy due to the ongoing Coronavirus emergency and, in the second half of the year, high volatility in the energy market. Thanks to its solid and efficient multi-business model and its good operational, financial and fiscal management, Hera managed to keep its results growing while pursuing sustainable development. It also succeeded in supporting its stakeholders, first and foremost its customers, with concrete actions such as bill instalment plans to enable them to meet their payments. . More generally, the Hera Group prolonged the path of uninterrupted growth that has characterised it since it was founded in 2002, continuing to leverage its own strategy: a balanced mix of internal and external growth, with significant economies of scale and an extraction of synergies that exceed expectations. . All this was accompanied by a wide range of initiatives for the energy transition, the circular economy and technological evolution, consistent with the path set out in the Business Plan to 2025, which aims to stand beside local areas in recovery, while respecting European strategies and the goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. . Revenues exceed 10.5 billion, up 49.1% The Hera Group’s 2021 revenues rose to 10,555.3 million euro, up 49.1% from the 7,079.0 million euro seen in 2020, with growth in all areas. The energy sectors in particular showed higher revenues from sales and trading activities, higher volumes of gas sold and an increase in energy commodity prices, in addition to growth in energy services and value-added services for customers. Revenues in the waste management sector also increased, due to higher volumes of plastic materials sold and acquisitions in the industrial market. Lastly, note the contribution coming from network services (both regulated and for third parties) and other services such as public lighting and telecommunications. Ebitda increases to 1,223.9 million euro (+9.0%) Group Ebitda rose to 1,223.9 million euro, up 9% from the 1,123.0 million euro recorded in 2020. This increase is linked to the performance of the energy areas, which also include energy services related to energy efficiency in residential buildings (insulation bonus and 110% super-bonus). The positive results recorded in the waste management area were also decisive, particularly in the area of waste treatment, partially due to an increase in the number of plants managed following recent acquisitions. Operating results grow to 611.7 million euro (+11.0%) Net operating results were also up, reaching 611.7 million euro, up 11.0% from 551.3 million in 2020, despite higher provisions and amortisation for new investments made in the operating segments, and those resulting from changes in the scope of consolidation; this result is equivalent to 50% of Ebitda. Financial operations amounted to 119.8 million euro, up by 3.1 million euro compared to 31 December 2020, due to higher expenses from the sale of tax credits as part of the ecobonus activities, partly offset by the efficiencies achieved following the repurchase of part of the Group’s medium/long-term debt, lower discounting charges and higher profits from associates and joint ventures. Pre-tax profit increased from 434.6 million to 491.9 million (+13.2%). Net profit pertaining to shareholders rises to 333.5 million (+10.2%) Net profit as at 31 December 2021 rose to 372.7 million, up 15.5% from 322.8 million one year earlier. Special items coming to 12.6 million contributed to this result. The tax rate for the 2021 financial year was 26.8%, compared to 25.7% in the previous year. The 2021 tax rate was mainly determined by the benefits received in terms of large and very large depreciation, relating to the significant investments made by the Group in technological, digital and environmental transformation. Strong growth was also seen in profits pertaining to Group shareholders, which rose to 333.5 million, compared to 302.7 million in 2020 (+10.2%). Net investments increase to 570.3 million; net debt/Ebitda ratio improves to 2.66x In 2021, net investments amounted to 570.3 million, up 7.9% from 528.5 million in 2020. This includes 11 million in financial investments, mainly for an equity investment in SEA, a company based in Marche region, down from the previous year’s financial investments that included an equity investment in Ascopiave. Including capital grants, operating investments rose to 588.7 million, up 16.3% on the 506.4 million seen during the previous year, with a significant focus on asset resilience. More specifically, investments were allocated mainly to plants, networks and infrastructures, as well as to regulatory upgrading in the water and sewage sector and a large-scale installation of new-generation gas meters. In addition to financing these investments and paying dividends, the positive cash flow generation also made it possible to finance the M&A transactions carried out in 2021 and cover most of the liability management transactions, including the repurchase of loans with an approximate nominal value of 400 million maturing in the next few years. All this, while keeping net financial debt essentially stable, at 3,261.3 million on 31 December 2021, in line with 3,227.0 million at 31 December 2020. Hera’s financial solidity – which is also reflected by the ratings assigned by the main rating agencies: BBB+ with a stable outlook by Standard & Poor’s and Baa2 by Moody’s – was also confirmed by the net debt/Ebitda ratio 2.66x, an improvement compared to the 2.87x seen at the end of 2020. Group focus on sustainability confirmed, with shared value Ebitda increasing to 570.6 million These positive economic results go hand in hand with Hera’s increasing focus on sustainability. In 2021, shared value Ebitda, which refers to business activities that also meet the drivers for sustainable growth, rose to 570.6 million, a significant increase compared to 2020 (+25.4%) and corresponding to 46.6% of total Ebitda. This result is in line with the projections contained in the Business Plan, which expects this value to reach 55% of total Ebitda by 2025 and rise to 70% in 2030, along a linear path that generates concrete benefits for the areas and communities served, flanking the company’s own development. Proposed dividend rises to 12 cents per share Confirming the focus on generating value for shareholders, and in line with what was announced last January when the 2025 Business Plan was presented, in view of the positive results achieved, the Board of Directors has decided to propose to the Shareholders Meeting to be held on 28 April the payment of a dividend coming to 12 cents per share, higher than the amount expected by the previous Business Plan. The ex-dividend date has been set at 20 June 2022, with payment as of 22 June 2022. The dividend will be paid to shares recorded on 21 June 2022. br> Report on Remuneration policies and compensation paid approved The Board of Directors also approved the Report on Remuneration policies and compensation paid, in line with international best practices. Gas Ebitda for the gas area – which includes services in natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and heat management – grew significantly compared to the previous year, in terms of both earnings and volumes sold, rising to 487.6 million euro (+30.2%), compared to 374.4 million in 2020. This growth, which concerned both revenues and volumes sold, was achieved thanks to the positive contribution coming from the volumes sold in traditional markets, as a result of the recovery in consumption and production activities, which suffered a sharp slowdown in 2020 due to the pandemic, and in those segments subject to tenders, where Hera Comm further consolidated its presence. In last resort markets in particular, Hera Comm was awarded, for the period from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2023, 6 out of 9 lots of the last resort gas service and all lots of the default gas service, as well as 9 lots of the Consip GAS13 tender, through which Public Administrations in 12 regions purchased gas in 2021. The increase in earnings is also linked to significant growth in the energy services business, due to incentives deriving from tax bonuses for energy efficiency works, confirming the trend of considerable growth in this sector recorded in previous quarters. The number of customers remained essentially stable, at 2.1 million. In 2021, gross investments totalled 141.3 million (+4.4% compared to 2020), mainly due to the installation of gas smart meters, including the innovative NexMeter patented by Hera, activities related to the acquisition of new customers, as well as non-recurring maintenance on networks and plants. As regards regulated services, in September 2021 the Hera Group, through its subsidiary AcegasApsAmga, was definitively awarded the tender for gas distribution in the Udine 2 ATEM for the next 12 years, with a value of approximately 115 million euro. The gas area accounted for 39.8% of Group Ebitda. Electricity The electricity area – which covers electricity generation, distribution and sales services – recorded an Ebitda coming to 144.7 million, down sharply from the 188.2 million seen one year earlier (-23.1%), mainly due to the reduction in the scope of operations in the safeguarded market and the lower calls for the dispatching market. Growth in free market activities, new value-added services, optimisation of plant production and distribution services compensated for the lower income coming from brokerage activities. Electricity customers came to over 1.4 million (+5.0%), with growth mainly in the free market, thanks to the strengthening of commercial actions and the award of the gradual protection service. In the electricity area, gross investments amounted to 55.3 million euro, up 15.9% on the previous year. The interventions carried out mainly concern non-recurring maintenance on distribution plants and networks in the Modena, Imola, Trieste and Gorizia areas, some new constructions, such as the Modena Est primary substation, as well as the replacement of meters. Requests for new connections also increased compared to the previous year. The electricity area accounted for 11.8% of Group Ebitda. Water cycle Ebitda for the integrated water cycle area – which includes services in the aqueduct, purification and sewerage – came to 262.4 million euro, essentially in line with the 265.8 million seen in the previous year. This result is due to higher operating costs on networks and plants, as a result of the resumption of activities after the lockdown, and revised technical quality criteria, partially offset by higher revenues from connections and growth in other revenues. The latter include the benefits recognised by Arera with the application of the new tariff method, linked to the significant investments made by the Group to implement measures increasing the resilience and sustainability of its plants, and thus continue to guarantee citizens quality, efficiency and continuity in supply. Including capital grants, investments amounted to 194.6 million euro (+17.1%), mainly going to extensions, reclamation and upgrades of networks and plants, as well as regulatory adjustments, especially in the purification and sewage sector. Among other things, work continued on the Rimini seawater protection plan, one of the most important and avant-garde works in Italy in the field of sewerage and purification, in addition to redeveloping the sewerage network in other areas. Requests for new water and sewage connections increased compared to the previous year, also driven by the economic recovery, particularly in the construction sector. At the end of 2021, Atersir definitively awarded the Hera Group the tender for managing the integrated water service in 24 municipalities in the province of Rimini, in Emilia-Romagna region, including the capital city, with a contract worth approximately 1.7 billion euro. Thanks to the award of the tender, one of the first in Italy, the new water distribution service in the Rimini area will be based on sustainability and innovation, and the Hera Group, also the outgoing manager for the 24 municipalities, will be responsible for the service for the next 18 years. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 21.4% of Group Ebitda. Waste management Ebitda for the waste management area – which includes waste collection, treatment and disposal services – rose to 291.7 million euro, +13.1% compared to the 258.0 million seen in 2020. This growth was achieved thanks to the ability shown by the Hera Group, the leading national operator in the waste management sector, to make the most of the current economic recovery. In addition to the contribution coming from an additional plant expansion, thanks to a series of M&A transactions in the industrial waste treatment sector, the increase in margins in the waste management area was due to higher revenues from growth in the volumes of waste treated and electricity generation, as well as strong development in the activities of the subsidiary Aliplast, a leader in the production of high quality recycled polymers, faced with a significant increase in demand and in the selling price of recycled materials. Initiatives in the field of the circular economy include those relating to Hera Business Solution, a “turnkey” multi-service proposal for large companies with integrated energy and environmental solutions aimed at sustainability, and the production of renewable energy with the development of the biomethane chain, also involving a collaboration with other local companies. Just last year, Hera signed a partnership with Inalca (Cremonini Group) to set up the NewCo Biorg for the transformation of organic waste and agro-food waste into 100% renewable methane and compost, which will be launched by the end of 2022. The Group’s focus on protecting and reusing environmental resources is also confirmed by the rate of sorted waste collection, which in 2021 stood at 65.3%, slightly up compared to the same period in 2020 if recalculated using uniform criteria. Investments coming to 98.2 million euro, up sharply compared to the previous year (+43.8%), mainly went to maintenance and expansion in the set of plants, including the start-up project with the NewCo Biorg in the Modena area, revamping work on the waste-to-energy plant in Trieste, and the F3 plant in Ravenna. Increased investments were also made in the collection point and equipment sector, which includes work on underground collection points. Lastly, in November 2021, Atersir definitively awarded the Hera Group the 15-year contract for municipal waste management services in Modena and Bologna, with a total of 1.5 million inhabitants and a value of over 2.5 billion. The waste management area accounted for 23.8% of Group Ebitda. Statement by Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano In 2021, our commitment to pursuing the creation of value for the company and our stakeholders, with sustainable development, once again enabled us to achieve positive results and implement actions to support the environment in which we operate, starting with our customers. We will continue to do so in spite of the current scenario, which remains complex, and we look to the future by focusing on two factors that have always distinguished our twenty-year history: concreteness and solidity. Our decision to increase the dividend to 12 cents per share, in line with what we announced when we presented our new Business Plan, is a step in this direction and will benefit our shareholders, who will be able to count on higher income to face the current difficult situation. Risk prevention and management, moreover, is one of the strategic guidelines underpinning our Plan; it translates into the medium- to long-term approach required to anticipate actions and thus offset the risks to which utilities are exposed, deal with complexities and continue to guarantee service quality and continuity. Statement by CEO Stefano Venier The positive results achieved in 2021 show a further reinforcement of the company’s financial solidity, confirmed among other things by the net debt/Ebitda ratio, now at 2.66x, an improvement compared to the previous year. The positive cash flow allowed us to make greater investments, with positive repercussions for the areas in which we operate, in terms of both service quality and the induced economic activity created. Our greater solidity allows us to face the current complex scenario with confidence, continuing to guarantee investments and support for our stakeholders, with sustainability fully integrated into our business strategies. This is confirmed by the increase of over 25% in shared value Ebitda, which rose to 570.6 million in 2021 and accounted for 46.6% of total Ebitda, with the aim of reaching 70% in 2030. Impact of the conflict in Ukraine and of increases in energy commodity prices Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February triggered a series of economic and financial consequences, with an impact above all on the energy markets in which the Hera Group also operates. The already very high price of commodities, concerning both gas and electricity, has shown an extremely large degree of upward volatility. Within this scenario, two systemic risks in particular are becoming increasingly important: a further increase in inflation, due to energy commodities, with an effect on consumer products (agri-foods and industrial production) and a consequent impact on growth in GDP and energy demand; an unavailability of gas supplies from Russia – which account for 35%-40% of national consumption – would, depending on its duration, have an impact on industrial activities in the upcoming months, and also on domestic thermal consumption, if protracted beyond the summer. In line with its risk management strategy, the Hera Group is monitoring the evolution of this situation on a day-to-day basis, defining possible risk scenarios for its activities and identifying, where possible, mitigation actions. The manager responsible for drafting the company’s accounting statements, Luca Moroni, declares, pursuant to article 154-bis paragraph 2 of the TUF, that the information contained in the present press release corresponds to the documentation available and to the account books and entries. The financial statement and related materials will be available to the public pursuant to the terms established by law at the Company Headquarters, on the website www.gruppohera.it and on the authorised storage platform 1Info (www.1info.it), as of 6 April 2022. Unaudited extracts from the Financial Statements at 31 December 2021 are attached. Profit & Loss (m€) 31/12/2021 Inc.% 31/12/2020 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Sales 10.555,3 7.079,0 +3.476,3 +49,1% Other operating revenues 400,1 3,8% 467,8 6,6% -67,7 -14,5% Raw material (6.668,5) -63,2% (3.410,6) -48,2% +3.257,9 +95,5% Services costs (2.464,6) -23,3% (2.424,9) -34,3% +39,7 +1,6% Other operating expenses (66,5) -0,6% (58,9) -0,8% +7,6 +12,9% Personnel costs (592,8) -5,6% (572,7) -8,1% +20,1 +3,5% Capitalisations 60,8 0,6% 43,3 0,6% +17,5 +40,5% Ebitda 1.223,9 11,6% 1.123,0 15,9% +100,9 +9,0% Depreciation and provisions (612,5) -5,8% (571,7) -8,1% +40,4 +7,1% Ebit 611,7 -5,8% 551,3 7,8% +60,4 +11,0% Financial inc./(exp.) (119,8) (1,1%) (116,7) (1,6%) +3,1 +2,7% Pre tax profit 491,9 4,7% 434,6 6,1% +57,3 +13,2% Taxes (131,8) -1,2% (111,8) -1,6% +20,0 +17,9% Net profit 360,1 3,4% 322,8 4,6% +37,3 +11,6% Special items 12,6 0,1% - 0,0% +12,6 +100,0% Net profit 372,7 3,5% 322,8 4,6% +49,9 +15,5% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 333,5 3,2% 302,7 4,3 +30,8 +10,2% Minority shareholders 39,1 0,4% 20,1 0,3% +19,0 +94,6% Balance Sheet (m€) 31/12/2021 Inc.% 31/12/2020 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Net fixed assets 7.308,0 109,4% 6.983,6 109,4% +324,4 +4,6% Working capital 2,5 0,10% 53,6 0,8% (50,1) 93,5% (Provisions)/td> (633,4) (9,5%) (654,9) (10,2%) 21,5 (3,3%) Net invested capital 6.678,1 100,0% 6.382,3 100,0% +295,8 +4,6% Net equity 3.416,8 51,2% 3.155,3 49,4% 261,5 +8,3% Long term net financial debt 3.633,1 54,4% 3.617,1 56,7% (16,0) 0,4% Short term net financial debt (371,8) (5,6%) (390,1) (6,1%) +18,3 (4,7%) Net financial debts 3.261,30 48,8% 3.227,0 50,6% +34,3 +1,1% Net invested capital 6.678,1 100,0% 6.382,3 100,0% 295,8 4,6% Press release FY2021.pdf 13:53:00 sede hera piloni (1).png Nuova_Palazzina_1_110x150_s1.1533219433 (1).jpg
Online since 23/03/2022 at 13:53
04/03/2022
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Communication of the overall amount of voting rights

2022-03-04 (drafted pursuant to article 85-bis, paragraph 4-bis, of Consob Regulation 11971 / 14 May 1999) Communication of the overall amount of voting rights Bologna, 4 March 2022 - The following table contains the data concerning the shares outstanding and the number of voting rights representing the share capital as at 28 February 2022. Updated situation Previous situation Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Total of which: 1,489,538,745 2,229,451,858 1,489,538,745 2,229,681,921 Ordinary shares (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2021) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 Current coupon: n. 20 749,625,632 749,625,632 749,395,569 749,395,569 Ordinary shares with increased voting rights (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2021) - cod. ISIN IT0005159972 Current coupon: n. 20 739,913,113 1,479,826,226 740,143,176 1,480,286,352 Press release Communication of the overall amount of voting rights art. 85-bis 4 March 2022.pdf 2019-07-03 14:34:00 Communication of the overall amount of voting rights
24/02/2022
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Top Utility 2022: Hera Group wins first prize overall

2022-02-24 On the occasion of the tenth edition of this award, reserved for public utility companies, Hera received the first prize overall among the companies analysed, awarded today during an event dedicated to digitalisation Top Utility According to Top Utility, the Hera Group is the leading Italian utility in terms of economic and financial policies, sustainability, research and innovation, communication and the positive effects on the areas served. This prize has been assigned over the last ten years following an analysis of the main companies in the water, energy and waste management sectors, carried out by a research team from Althesys, a consultancy firm specialising in the public utility sector. The award ceremony was held during an online event entitled “Digitalization and sustainability for the future of Italian utilities”. The Hera Group’s best practices rewarded over the 10 years of Top Utility In particular, this year the Hera Group was awarded the overall Top Utility prize for the following reasons: “For the excellent results achieved in all areas analysed, with particular reference going to stakeholder relations, transparency and communication. Hera has also confirmed itself at the forefront in digitalising business processes and in the sustainability of operations”. This is the second time that Hera has received this important award, an even more significant achievement since this marks the twentieth anniversary of the Group’s establishment, which occurred in 2002 when 11 municipal companies in the Emilia-Romagna region merged. Today, Hera is the first operator nationwide in the waste management area, second in the integrated water cycle and third in electricity and gas sales. Over this award’s history, Hera’s efficiency and good practices have been abundantly confirmed: in addition to receiving the overall Top Utility in 2012, in 2014 and 2019 it received a prize in the communication and transparency category, in 2015 and 2018 in the sustainability category, and in 2021 in the gender equality and diversity and inclusion category. Looking to the future: a focus on generating shared value These two anniversaries are important in conceiving the future of this sector, examining the growth and evolution that municipal utilities have undergone to date and the strong impact they have had on local communities. In this sense, the core of the Hera Group’s strategy and identity consists in uninterrupted economic growth accompanied by sustainable development of its businesses and the areas served. Its commitment to generating shared value has indeed been confirmed as the cornerstone of its relations with all the stakeholders with whom Hera interacts, starting from its own employees and including institutions, local communities, customers, shareholders, citizens and suppliers. Press release Top utility 2022.pdf 2020-03-23 12:55:00 Top Utility
Press releases and notices
01/02/2022
Price sensitive
Other press releases
Hera Spa

Hera wins 2022 sustainability gold medal from S&P Global

2022-02-01 For the second time in a row, Hera has been awarded the S&P Global Gold Class Sustainability Award. This is the highest recognition reserved for listed companies included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, one of the most authoritative international indices for assessing ESG factors, in which the Group had also confirmed its ranking as sector leader last year S&P Global 2022 The Hera Group is once again a global gold medal winner for sustainability, for the second consecutive year. The S&P Global 2022 Gold Class award was announced today, together with the publication of the 2022 Sustainability Yearbook, the report containing the analyses carried in order to be included in the latest edition of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI). This document highlights the results achieved by Hera, a leader in all three aspects evaluated in its area (Environment, Economic & Governance and Social), for its ability to efficiently manage resources, seize market opportunities and ensure stakeholder involvement. In the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), the authoritative international stock exchange index which evaluates listed companies based on ESG aspects, Hera was confirmed as the international leader in its sector (Multi-Utilities & Water), reaching a score of 90/100, compared to an average of 39/100. The 2022 Gold Class offers further recognition for the Hera Group’s strategy, in which business activities and attention to ESG factors have always gone hand in hand. The Business Plan to 2025 itself, presented last week, consolidates the Group’s commitment to a balanced and sustainable development, in order to continue creating value for shareholders, local areas and the communities served. This new five-year strategic document foresees concrete and innovative projects for the energy transition, the circular economy and technological evolution, thanks to a strong rise in investments, most of which meet the criteria with which the European Taxonomy identifies opportunities that contribute to reaching environmental policy objectives. The Group’s commitment, made explicit in its Plan to 2025, translates into industrial objectives consistent with European policies and the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes a series of targets for 2030, among which a 37% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2019 and a 150% increase in the amount of recycled plastic compared to 2017. S&P Global 2022 Press release Hera wins 2022 sustainability gold medal SP Global.pdf 2015-04-17 13:30:36 S&P Global 2022 S&P Global 2022
Online since 01/02/2022 at 13:30
28/01/2022
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Calendar of corporate events

2022-01-28 Sede Hera CALENDAR OF CORPORATE EVENTS (*) In accordance with art. 2.6.2 (Required Reporting) of the “Rules of the markets organised and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A.", please find below our annual calendar of corporate events: 23 March 2022 - Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve the previous year’s preliminary financial statements. 28 April 2022 - Shareholders’ Meeting to approve the previous year’s financial statements. 11 May 2022 - Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve additional financial information for the period ending on 31 March 2022. 27 July 2022 - Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve the half-year financial report as at 30 June 2022. 9 November 2022 - Meeting of the Board of Directors to approve additional financial information for the period ending on 30 September 2022. The Board of Directors, as communicated for the previous financial year and in line with the past, in order to guarantee regularity in the information provided to the financial market and investors, has decided to continue preparing and publishing this information quarterly, on a voluntary basis and in line with current regulations. Also note that, in compliance with the provisions of the Instructions for Regulations of the Markets Organised and Managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A. (Title IA.2, Section IA.2.1, Art. IA.2, Section IA.2.1, Art. IA.2.1.3), the payment of dividends for the financial year 2021 is scheduled to begin on 22 June 2022, with ex-dividend date on 20 June 2022 and record date on 21 June 2022. The above is disclosed in order to comply with the requirements of Borsa Italiana S.p.A. and, therefore, this communication cannot be interpreted as a forecast concerning the existence of the conditions for the payment of dividends during this year or in future years. (*) barring changes Press release Corporate events calendar.pdf 2020-07-02 14:15:00 Sede Hera
27/01/2022
Price sensitive
Other press releases
Hera Spa

Hera Group approves Business Plan to 2025

2022-01-27 The new five-year strategic document builds on the Group’s path of growth, with investments coming to over 3.8 billion and concrete energy transition and circular economy projects. The Plan is solidly based on twenty years of experience, with positive value creation for shareholders, local areas and the communities served, and on the results for the 2021 financial year, whose Ebitda is estimated at over 1.2 billion euro Sede Hera Operating-financial highlights 2025 Ebitda: 1.4 billion euro (+277 million compared to 2020) Total industrial and financial investments: over 3.8 billion Net debt/Ebitda at 2.8x in 2025 Further increase in dividends, reaching 14.5 cents per share in 2025 (+32% compared to the last dividend paid) All five-year operating and ESG targets revised upwards Industrial highlights Confirmation of strategy focused on 3 areas: environment, socio-economic factors and innovation, with a wide range of concrete projects in all business areas Development driven by both internal and external growth (M&As) and balanced between regulated and free-market activities Goal of 4.5 million energy customers by 2025 Shared value at 780 million euro by 2025 (roughly 55% of total Ebitda) Among the objectives for 2030: reducing CO2 emissions by 37% and increasing recycled plastic by 150% A Plan that combines growth, value creation and sustainable development Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, approved the Business Plan to 2025, which consolidates the Group’s commitment to balanced and sustainable development in all business areas, with the aim of continuing to create value for shareholders, local areas and the communities served. With Ebitda expected to reach 1.4 billion in 2025 and investments totalling approximately 3.8 billion over the period covered by the Plan, this five-year strategic document shows increases in all main targets and outlines a wide range of actions for the energy transition, the circular economy and technological evolution, with concrete and innovative projects that will also benefit from funding opportunities coming from the Recovery and Resilience Plan. 20 years of uninterrupted growth, and 2021 Ebitda expected to total over 1.2 billion euro The new Plan is based on a trend of uninterrupted growth, as is proven by Group Ebitda, which has increased more than sixfold in 20 years. This consistent and linear path has been seen since the establishment of the Hera Group, which is characterised by a full correspondence between the commitments made and the initiatives implemented, capital and financial solidity and a multi-business strategy that balances regulated and free market activities, internal growth and M&A transactions. This model, which has proved its resilience and capability of supporting stakeholders, even during adverse scenarios, has enabled the Hera Group to consolidate leading positions in all business areas. Projections for 2021 year-end results are also positive, exceeding expectations, with a preliminary Ebitda rising to over 1,220 million euro, compared to 1,123 million at the end of 2020, and a net debt/Ebitda ratio coming to approximately 2.7x, an improvement on 31 December 2020. Last year, in addition to increased dividends, significant investments were seen, amounting to over 650 million euro, with strong growth over 2020. A recovering macroeconomic scenario, with coordinated actions for a fair and sustainable transition After the slowdown seen in 2020 due to the health emergency, global trends are now positive, with the European and Italian economies returning to rapid growth. This recovery, moreover, is generating tension in some sectors, such as raw materials, causing a significant increase in market volatility, which is set to continue in the coming months, and which will see the Group further strengthen both its risk management strategies and its actions to support stakeholders. In this framework, European and national institutions are implementing coordinated and convergent actions aimed at a fair, sustainable and inclusive transition. In particular, with its Recovery and Resilience Plan, Italy has entered the executive phase of the Green Deal, with funds supporting carbon neutrality interventions and regenerative and circular development models. The opportunities seen in the Italian context also include those related to the consolidation of markets that are still overly fragmented, tenders for the renewal of services under concession, and the further liberalisation of electricity sales, with the elimination of protected markets. Three focal points of the Business Plan to 2025: environment, socio-economic factors and innovation In a context undergoing recovery, with an increasing emphasis on sustainability and the utilities sector set to benefit from the most significant share of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, the Hera Group will be able to continue to leverage the competitive position it has cultivated over the years and thus grow. In full compliance with national and European policies and the objectives on the UN’s 2030 Agenda, which have been guiding Hera’s strategies for some time, all projects in the Business Plan to 2025 are structured around three focal points: the environment, socio-economic factors and innovation, with initiatives for the green and digital transition, capable of generating positive effects in the areas served. The environmental focal points include initiatives to combat climate change, in order to achieve carbon neutrality, with actions to reduce emissions, increase infrastructure resilience and promote the circular economy. The socio-economic aspects, on the other hand, aim to create “shared value”: under the Plan, the Hera Group will extend the range and quality of its services in areas where it has been present for quite some time, reinforced by the newly awarded tenders for regulated service concession renewals, and in new areas as well, and will seize further development opportunities through external growth. Lastly, innovation will embrace all opportunities linked to technological evolution, with the aim of further increasing the efficiency and quality of services, and above all introducing changes in its model of organisational management. A strong increase in investments, coming to over 3.8 billion euro, thanks to the Group’s financial solidity The Plan to 2025 calls for a sharp increase in investments, amounting to more than 3.8 billion euro, or approximately 770 million per year. This is a very significant rise – equivalent to 60% – compared to the average seen over the last five years, and is possible thanks to its solid financial structure, reinforced over the years and in 2021 as well. Investment allocation combines internal development opportunities with actions to increase system resilience (accounting for roughly 1.2 billion). Significant investments for innovation will be made in all business areas and support will be given to the ongoing transition. In general, of the total investments envisaged in the Plan, more than 1.7 billion are aligned with the criteria with which the European Taxonomy identifies opportunities that contribute to environmental policy objectives, in particular the two areas regulated for now, relating to mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, many of these interventions respect the directions indicated by the Recovery and Resilience Plan. Thanks to an optimisation of financial and fiscal costs, the Plan outlines an increasing creation of value, as seen among other factors by ROE and ROI, projected at 10.6% and 8.7% respectively in 2025, a particularly appreciable result considering that the recent reduction in WACC for regulated activities concerns 60% of the invested capital. Moreover, the net debt to Ebitda ratio at 2025 is expected to be 2.8x, consistent with the current figure and indicative of a strong self-financing capability, providing room for manoeuvre that will allow the Group to take advantage of any additional unforeseen opportunities that may arise during the period covered by the Plan. Ebitda expected to rise to 1.4 billion by 2025, thanks to both internal and external growth The improved scenario and the increase in investments have enabled the Hera Group to revise all its five-year targets upwards, first and foremost Ebitda, which is expected to reach 1.4 billion euro in 2025, 277 million more than the 1,123 million seen at the end of 2020. The average annual increase comes to 4.5%, higher than the 3.7% forecast by the previous Plan (this data already includes the impact of the reduction in tariffs following Arera’s WACC revision for regulated activities included in gas, electricity and water bills). Besides the positive contribution coming from all business sectors, internal growth and operating efficiencies will contribute 192 million euro to Ebitda, while 100 million will come from new M&As, plus any synergies that the Group will be able to extract, in line with its previous trends. A further 22 million in Ebitda will be generated by the operations concluded in late 2020 and early 2021: the acquisition of the company Wölmann, which operates in photovoltaic panel installation, the energy sales company Ecogas and three companies in the industrial waste sector: Recycla, Gruppo Vallortigara and SEA. Synergies, efficiency gains, expansion of market shares, new projects and investments will thus make it possible to offset the negative impacts, totalling 37 million, deriving from the loss of some incentives, such as those on the production of renewable energy, and the cut in the WACC on regulated services mentioned above. Sustainability as a strategic priority: “shared value” Ebitda at 55% in 2025, almost 70% in 2030 Sustainability remains one of the cornerstones of the Group’s strategies for growth, perfectly integrated and relevant to all operating areas, with an increasing focus on creating value for stakeholders, as shown by the recent introduction of the concept of corporate purpose in the Group’s Articles of Association. “Shared value” Ebitda itself, reported since 2016 and referring to business activities that meet the sustainability goals on the UN Agenda, has increased steadily over the years. It is expected to reach roughly 55% of total Ebitda in 2025, equivalent to 780 million euro, and to amount 70% in 2030, along a linear path that generates concrete benefits for the areas and communities served, proportionately reflecting the company’s own development. The Hera Group’s best practices in ESG areas, in any case, have long been recognised both nationally and internationally. Along with ranking first in the 2021 Integrated Governance Index, which measures the integration of sustainability into corporate strategies, Hera has been included, as leader in its sector (Multi-Utility & Water), for the second year in a row, in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, World and Europe, one of the most authoritative stock exchange indices in the world assessing social responsibility. Further increase in dividends, rising to 14.5 cents per share As confirmation of its focus on generating value for shareholders, the Group plans to pay steadily increasing dividends: upon approval of the 2021 Financial Statements, the Group will in fact propose to the Board of Directors a 12 €cents/share dividend, compared to 11 €cents/share for the 2020 dividend, thus showing an increase of 1 €cent instead of 0.5 €cents, as initially planned. This additional increase will thus benefit all prospected dividends, which will reach 14.5 €cents/share in 2025 (32% more than the last dividend paid). This higher dividend payment is in line with the expected trend in earnings per share, which will also rise by 5.7% per year on average until 2025. The networks sector: resilience, resource regeneration and development of “clean energy” solutions Ebitda expected in 2025 from the networks sector – which includes electricity and gas distribution services, the water cycle and district heating – comes to 533 million euro, up 73 million compared to 2020. This target is all the more significant considering that it fully offsets the revised WACC, effective as of 1 January 2022, which will have a -22 million impact over the period covered by the Plan. Most of the internal growth will come from two main drivers: infrastructure development, with investments bringing overall RAB to 4 billion euro, and further cost efficiency coming to 40 million euro, made possible among other things by an increased use of digitalisation and innovations on infrastructures that introduce new operating models. More specifically, Hera will invest approximately 2.1 billion euro in extending, modernising and evolving its networks, focusing on integrating traditional methods with technologically innovative solutions to ensure resilience, efficiency and business continuity even in the event of extreme weather events. Interventions for the smart transition include installing approximately 420,000 second generation (2G) electricity meters that will measure consumption more precisely. As regards gas distribution, in addition to replacing gas meters in compliance with regulatory obligations, installation of “NexMeter” devices will continue, patented by the Group and equipped with advanced safety functions in the event of leaks or earthquakes, and cutting-edge technology in terms of reducing gas dispersion into the atmosphere. By 2025, 300,000 will be installed, 200,000 of which in the new recycled plastic version and ready to measure blends with “green gas”. This green version of NexMeter will be at the centre of the first trial in Italy concerning the use of gas and hydrogen mixtures in household gas distribution, in the Modena area. Hera’s multi-business competence, indeed, represents a strategic opportunity to develop solutions in the field of “clean energies”, as shown by the project for a unit with power-to-gas technology at the Bologna Corticella purification plant, already at an advanced planning stage, with start-up expected by 2023. As regards tenders for gas distribution, Hera aims to confirm its position as service manager in the areas already covered, with two more tenders expected over the period covered by the Plan, in addition to ATEM Udine 2, which the Group was recently awarded. In district heating, Hera’s goals include increasing volumes distributed and developing the heat generation mix, with the goal of reaching 77% of energy from renewable and assimilated sources in the networks managed by the Group within 2025. Lastly, in the water cycle, Hera will aim for an increasingly efficient use of water resources, with a reduction in consumption and circularity solutions, and will invest in new technologies to increase network efficiency and resilience, through means including enhanced automation and remote monitoring. The energy sector: 4.5 million customers by 2025 and focus on value-added services and energy efficiency By 2025, Ebitda in the energy sector will amount to 444 million euro, up 76 million compared to the 368 million seen in 2020, while the investments made during the period covered by the Plan period will come to approximately 550 million euro. Hera will continue its efforts to expand the customer base, with the aim of consolidating its position as the third largest operator in the energy sector in Italy and reaching 4.5 million customers by 2025, due to factors including upcoming competitive procedures for eliminating protected markets. This will be due to significant investments in customer experience, to improve its effectiveness and efficiency, introducing new functions and tools to encourage customer involvement and interaction with the company, while maintaining the “cost to serve” per client stable over the years. Ebitda will be sustained first and foremost by extracting commercial expansion and cross-selling activities – amounting to approximately 27 million – due in particular to the integration of EstEnergy, the internal growth created by sales campaigns and the increased amount of value-added services and energy efficiency, continuing also to take advantage of all the opportunities related to the so-called super-ecobonus. The range of value-added services, in particular, will be further expanded with solutions for reducing consumption and new integrated proposals for protecting the environment, such as photovoltaics. This focus on sustainability is confirmed by the fact that proposals are already made to all retail customers for 100% energy from renewable sources. Hera will also continue to invest in developing electric mobility, with the aim of installing more than 4,000 recharging points by 2025, integrating its offer with a series of advanced products and services. Lastly, as regards external growth, following up on the acquisitions already completed, the Group will aim to acquire new customer packages in a market that is still highly fragmented and in which smaller operators, vulnerable due to the currently high volatility of energy markets, are disappearing. A leader in waste management, with outstanding plants and innovative projects for the circular economy Ebitda for the waste management sector will also rise, going from 258 million euro in 2020 to 380 million in 2025, with investments expected to amount to almost 1.1 billion over the period covered by the Plan. In this sector, the Hera Group is the leading operator nationally, with a set of approximately ninety state-of-the-art facilities in line with European best practices, capable of treating all types of waste. Under the Plan, the Group aims to consolidate its leadership through new acquisitions, commercial development, growth in volumes treated, increased recovery and recycling activities. It will thus meet the rapidly growing demand and continue to implement projects in support of the circular economy. Group subsidiary Aliplast, already a leader in plastics recycling, will play a central role in promoting the circular economy, extending its efforts by increasing the capacity of plants dedicated to treating flexible plastics (PET and LDPE). Thanks to its partnership with NextChem, part of the Maire Tecnimont Group, it will also enter the rigid plastics segment, with the construction in Modena of an innovative plant producing high-quality recycled polymers, which will promote the sustainability of certain sectors, such as IT and consumer electronics, which until now have only been able to use virgin plastics for their products. A new plant is also being planned to recycle carbon fibre, which can then be reused to make new products, particularly in the automotive sector. In general, the objective is to increase the volume of recycled plastic by 125% in 2025 compared to 2017. In addition, Hera plans to double its production of biomethane – reaching 16.8 million cubic metres per year in 2025 – by replicating the positive experience of the Sant’Agata Bolognese plant in Bologna area, which produces compost and biomethane from organic waste, fuelling sustainable mobility. Through the NewCo Biorg, born out of a partnership with the Cremonini Group, a plant in Spilamberto in Modena area will be restructured to produce biomethane and compost from organic waste and agro-food waste, while in the Marche region Hera is continuing to work on an anaerobic biodigester from organic waste, generating positive effects in an area currently lacking in facilities of this type. Thanks to its unique offer of sustainable and integrated solutions, Hera also aims to expand its industrial customer base. The synergies between the Group’s companies make it possible to offer businesses customised “turnkey” service packages that include all activities relating to the waste cycle, water resources and energy services. A further contribution to enriching Group’s proposals and its geographical coverage will come from recent M&As in industrial waste treatment: in 2021, in fact, Hera acquired 70% of the Friuli-based company Recycla, 31% of Sea in the Marche region and 80% of the Vallortigara Group located in Veneto. Lastly, as regards municipal waste services, the Group has already won tenders in the Ravenna-Cesena, Modena and Bologna areas and aims to confirm its management of this service in the remaining areas already covered in Emilia-Romagna. In these areas, Hera intends to further improve the percentage of sorted waste collected, reaching 76% by 2025, with measures to increase its quality as well, such as involving citizens and businesses with dedicated initiatives and communication campaigns, and installing around 62 thousand “Smarty” computerised bins, automated and remotely controlled, during the period covered by the Plan. The main industrial objectives to 2025, with an eye on 2030 as well The Group’s commitment towards the content of the Plan to 2025 translates into industrial objectives consistent with European policies and UN recommendations. Moreover, in order to define its contribution even more precisely, Hera has extended its perspective to include a series of targets to 2030. One of the most important of these goals is to work towards carbon neutrality. Hera has set itself one of the most ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for a company in Italy: 37% by 2030, after achieving 26% in 2025 (in both cases compared to 2019). This target – validated by the prestigious international network Science Based Target initiative – is even more significant since it takes into account both the Group’s activities and those of its suppliers and customers in electricity and gas sales. The Group has also confirmed its commitment to the circular economy and regenerating resources. Some targets include: increasing the percentage of packaging recycling, from 73% in 2020 to 76% in 2025 and over 80% in 2030, and increasing the percentage of wastewater reused, from 5.1% in 2020 to 8.5% in 2025 and 15% in 2030. Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group The Hera Group’s Business Plan to 2025 outlines new development objectives for our company, in economic terms and as regards sustainability. In order to achieve these goals, we have allocated significant investments to continue introducing cutting-edge projects in the areas where we have a consolidated presence. These investments will also allow us to expand our scope, seizing the best opportunities for competition in the still highly fragmented sectors in which we operate. In an increasingly complex economic context, we wish to concretely contribute to recovery and the sustainable transition in Italy, with a multifaceted series of interventions, in line with the notices of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. Our multi-utility has now reached maturity, and not only in terms of age: this Plan crowns 20 years of progressive and linear growth, which has also generated value in the communities served. We have proved able to look to the future, extending our knowledge and perspectives, while being able to count on the solid foundations provided by our heritage and a consolidated strategy. Above all in the difficult times that our country has recently experienced, we have continued to guarantee quality services – as demonstrated by being awarded all tenders for regulated services held to date in the areas we cover – and to support those who have believed in us. This means our employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders, to whom we plan to pay dividends with further increases compared to what was previously defined, reaching 14.5 cents per share by 2025, following a growth rate of approximately 6%, in line with the expected trend in net results. Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group The strategies set out in the Hera Group’s Business Plan to 2025 confirm and consolidate the orientations we have defined in the past, proving the effectiveness of the guidelines adopted by our multi-utility, which perfectly reflect European policies and the drivers of the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. The improved cash flows expected will make it possible to self-finance our entire investment plan and remuneration for our shareholders. In order to focus our actions even more effectively, over the last two years we have begun measuring our progress with respect to the ambitious targets set for 2030, thus strengthening our commitment to the energy transition, the circular economy and technological evolution. Business activities and attention to ESG factors have always gone hand in hand for us, and over the years “shared value” Ebitda has grown at the same rate as the Group itself: in 2025 we expect this figure to reach 55% of total Ebitda, rising to 70% in 2030. Press release Business Plan to 2025.pdf 2020-07-02 14:03:00 Sede Hera
Online since 27/01/2022 at 14:03
26/01/2022
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera Group in the 2022 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

2022-01-26 This year, for the third year in a row, Hera has been included in the international index assessing gender equality, diversity and inclusion Sede Hera The Hera Group has confirmed its status as one of the world’s most inclusive companies, attentive to gender equality and promoting diversity. In 2022, the Group has indeed been included, for the third consecutive time, in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, confirming and improving its results in all areas analysed. Hera stands out most importantly for its transparency in disclosure on these issues, as well as its inclusive corporate culture and its attention towards women in many areas, including equal pay. The Group obtained an overall score slightly above 80%, a significant increase over the previous year and better than both the sector average and the Italian companies analysed. This year, the index included 418 listed companies from 45 countries, selected from over 11,700, reflecting the international financial community’s growing interest towards companies with outstanding diversity policies. Hera’s presence in the 2022 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index confirms the attention it has always reserved for these issues, following a path it has enhanced over time. Diversity policies are in fact an integral part of Hera’s business strategies. For over 10 years, a company Diversity Manager, accompanied by a team of female and male colleagues from different areas, has been committed to promoting diversity both inside and outside the Group, supporting initiatives intended to raise awareness and support, and developing projects geared towards these priorities. At Hera, promoting diversity, inclusion and people development is also central to human resource management. Professional growth takes place regardless of gender, and equal access is ensured by meritocratic systems that are guaranteed to be applied, with compensation and benefits tools linked to performance, role complexity and market comparisons. The Group counts 32.6% of women in roles of responsibility and, more generally, a 26.7% share of female staff, higher than the national average for the sector (2020 data). As further proof of the Group’s attention to these topics, it has also been included for some time in the Refinitiv “Diversity & Inclusion Index” and, boasting a position of world leadership in its sector, in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World and Europe, the authoritative stock exchange index for evaluating social responsibility, which brings together the companies with the best sustainability performance in the world. Press release Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index.pdf 2020-07-02 14:17:00 Sede Hera
20/01/2022
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera Top Employer for the 13th time

2022-01-20 Once again among Italy’s highest ranked employers, this year second place overall among companies nationwide for outstanding human resource management, Hera has reached its first milestone of the new year, which marks its twentieth anniversary. Training, welfare and digitalisation among the Group’s strong points. Sede Hera The start of a new year is always an occasion to look back in time, but even more so to look forward, taking a look at results and focusing on new objectives. In 2022, this is all the more true for the Hera Group, since this year marks the twentieth anniversary of its establishment. This is why receiving Top Employer certification for the 13th consecutive year, a sign of excellence in human resource management, is even more significant. Hera, after gaining recognition as the best company in 2020 and 2021, has found its place on the podium this year as well, ranking second overall in Italy among the 1,600 companies analysed by the Dutch Top Employer Institute. How? Over the years, Hera has provided itself with the best technologies, projects and initiatives to invest in the skills and well-being of its workers and select the most interesting talent on the market. One aspect which is increasingly crucial on the workplace as well, especially considering the changes in external contexts, is the care given to relations, which must be seen as real capital. Hera has decided to invest in this area, through means including training and corporate culture. HerAcademy, the Hera Group’s corporate university, plays a leading role in this field, and at the end of last year it organised a conference entitled “The evolution of social and relational dynamics for the ‘rebirth’ of work”, an event which called on leading figures from the world of business, academics and professionals. The goal was to compare experiences and practices, demonstrating that only by being part of a solid and motivated team is it possible to meet the challenges awaiting us outside and inside organisations. Moreover, the Hera Group has always stood out for its organisational methods, promoting agility in work, safety and the value given to the uniqueness of people, all within a context highly exposed to change. Alongside the increasing importance of training and welfare, along with a corporate culture dedicated to the inclusion of diversity, Hera has proven able to meet the challenge of digitalising services and therefore professional activities. Within this process, which is now in full swing and covers all company activities, even the most operational, employees have been accompanied but above all listened to, trying to understand and share their needs. Overall, this commitment has been recognised by the workers themselves, as shown by the latest employee climate survey, in which 82% of the company’s workforce took part and in which the company achieved excellent results. 16 years after the first survey, the overall satisfaction index has risen by more than 20 points, reaching 71 on a scale of 1 to 100. All of this testifies to the effectiveness of the steps towards improvement introduced following numerous communication initiatives. “For us, 2022 promises to be a very important year, encouraging us to look to the future with confidence, feeling proud of what we have done so far”, states Hera Group Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano. “Ours is a twenty-year journey that began from local communities, from the people who live in them and to whom we provide essential services, but which has even more distant roots in the many companies out of which the Hera Group was born in 2002. It was very clear to us that our workers deserved to be at centre stage, because their skills and motivation are crucial to ensuring the continuity and constantly increasing quality of our services. This is why recognition as a Top Employer is so important: we have achieved this goal for 13 years, but we want to continue to take pride in it and invest in it, without ever taking it for granted. We will continue to promote the development of the idea of our organisation as a community and as a social environment, by constantly investing in the growth of our people.” Press release Hera Top Employer.pdf 2020-07-02 11:29:00 Sede Hera
04/01/2022
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Communication of the overall amount of voting rights

2022-01-04 (drafted pursuant to article 85-bis, paragraph 4-bis, of Consob Regulation 11971 / 14 May 1999) Communication of the overall amount of voting rights Bologna, 4 January 2022 - The following table contains the data concerning the shares outstanding and the number of voting rights representing the share capital as at 31 December 2021. Updated situation Previous situation Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Total of which: 1,489,538,745 2,229,681,921 1,489,538,745 2,230,666,054 Ordinary shares (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2021) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 Current coupon: n. 20 749,395,569 749,395,569 748,411,436 748,411,436 Ordinary shares with increased voting rights (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2021) - cod. ISIN IT0005159972 Current coupon: n. 20 740,143,176 1,480,286,352 741,127,309 1,482,254,618 Press release Communication of the overall amount of voting rights art. 85bis.pdf 2019-07-03 14:02:00 Communication of the overall amount of voting rights
30/11/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera Group: with NexMeter the gas meter goes green

2021-11-30 Hera’s smart gas meter 4.0, the first of its kind internationally in terms of safety functions, is already prepared for its first experimentation in the network with hydrogen, and its construction in recycled plastic further confirms the commitment to the energy transition and circularity. Not only equipped with outstanding technology and functions, including reducing gas dispersion into the atmosphere, the device is at the centre of the first experimentation in Italy with the use of hydrogen in domestic gas distribution Nexmeter With the Hera Group, also gas distribution is going green. NexMeter, Hera’s smart gas meter 4.0, the first of its kind worldwide in terms of cutting-edge technology and safety functions, including reducing gas dispersion into the atmosphere, will be made from recycled plastic and can already be used for distributing hydrogen in the network up to a maximum of 20% compatibility, with a trial planned in the coming months. This advanced meter is therefore a concrete example of the Hera Group’s commitment to the energy transition and carbon neutrality, focusing on green gases, such as biomethane, hydrogen and green syngas, and contributing to the fight against climate change. Furthermore, it results from Hera’s experience and know-how in management of the gas distribution service, combined with continuous investments in innovation, research and development, and confirms the Group’s collaboration with outstanding partners: Panasonic, the Japanese multinational global leader in electronic products and components, and Pietro Fiorentini, an Italian company and market leader in creating products and services for the entire natural gas chain. The advanced version of NexMeter will be previewed today in Milan at Enlit, the most important event in the sector. NexMeter gets the “stamp” for hydrogen operation The new NexMeter is now ready to be used with hydrogen distributed through the network, having obtained the “stamp of approval” certifying its compatibility with green gas mixtures. This is thanks to the metrological certification carried out by Tifernogas, a notified body pursuant to the relevant Directives (2014/32/EU MI-002 and MI-008), and the construction analysis concerning the compatibility of its materials with blending hydrogen and methane, carried out by RINA, an international engineering, consulting, inspection, quality assurance and quality control company in the energy sector. An immediate debut: initial experiments with hydrogen in the domestic gas network soon to be underway NexMeter’s first field test involving hydrogen will be carried out during the next few months, as part of a wider set of activities aimed at certifying the entire Hera Group’s supply chain as qualified to use green gases. More specifically, it involves introducing a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen into a portion of the distribution network managed by the Group, involving around thirty households in Castelfranco Emilia in Modena province. This is the first experiment of this kind in Italy as regards domestic gas distribution, and it aims at studying innovative solutions to contribute to the local area’s needs as regards decarbonisation, with benefits for the environment as well. The trial is also part of the Group’s broader strategy for developing hydrogen in a two-fold perspective: on the one hand, upgrading its assets, starting with the gas distribution networks, and on the other, creating new business opportunities, which Hera can make the most of by leveraging its multi-business expertise, including partnerships with other major industrial operators. A green device with environmental benefits with over 68% of its elements made in recycled plastic NexMeter’s advanced functions have numerous environmental and economic benefits: eliminating leaks reduces methane dispersion, which in turn is highly polluting, while the entire process of optimising gas network management has a positive impact on the performance and emissions of user appliances, first and foremost boilers. Its ability to detect and signal to users even the smallest gas leaks also helps contain costs in their bills. But that’s not all: the new NexMeter model will be the first meter on the market with most of its components made of recycled plastic, reaching over 68%. To achieve this result, the Hera Group, which has always been committed to the circular economy and regenerating resources, can count on the expertise of its subsidiary Aliplast, a leader in plastic recycling and regeneration, with plants in Italy and abroad, and an annual production of around 100,000 tonnes of recycled plastic. The metre’s manuals are also green and smart, with a QR code included on the meter instead of a classic instruction manual, to avoid paper consumption, and packaging in recycled cardboard. 300,000 NexMeter meters installed by 2023 in earthquake-prone areas The previous model of NexMeter, we should recall, was already equipped with advanced functions, including a cutting-edge "mini-computer" offering absolute precision and safety, since it is capable of intercepting in real time even minimal leaks or tremors in the event of earthquakes. Launched in 2019, these devices are still being installed, with 70,000 devices already in operation. Thanks to approximately 45 million in investments, the Group’s goal is to reach 300,000 NexMeters installed by 2023, 200,000 of which will be made of recycled plastic. The areas concerned are those served by the Hera Group’s distribution companies, starting with areas classified as at risk of earthquakes or where the latter have recently occurred, such as Emilia-Romagna and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. “With NexMeter, two years ago, we gave concrete proof of our ability to invest and innovate in a sector that remains quite traditional, such as gas distribution, paying particular attention to safety and reducing gas dispersion into the atmosphere, a factor that was also at the centre of debates during the recent Cop26 – states Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group – Today, with this new version of the device, ready for hydrogen and made of recycled plastic, we are taking a further step forward, continuing to exploit our in-depth experience in this field with the skills offered by the most qualified partners, nationally and internationally. Actions and investments for the circular economy and innovation guide, indeed, the strategies set out in our Business Plan, in line with European guidelines and the goals on the UN 2030 Agenda. As a local multi-utility, we also have the task of growing while promoting sustainable development in the communities we serve, with advanced solutions that respect the environment and meet the safety and quality needs of citizens. NexMeter is a tangible example of our commitment to carrying out this mission in the best possible way.” “We are honoured to have contributed to the development of NexMeter which today added the use of green gas, especially hydrogen, to the safety functions, meeting the needs that the ecological transition imposes – states Motokazu Nishii, Head of Meter Device Business, Smart Energy System Business Division, Electric Works Company, Panasonic Corporation – This was possible thanks to Panasonic technology in ultrasonic measurement and safety functions with experience on the market for over 35 years, and, more importantly, to the collaboration with the Hera Group. The result is NexMeter which is a unique reference in the smart gas metering market. Panasonic will continue to work with the Hera Group to create a company where people can live better and more comfortably thanks to the use of clean energy and increasingly innovative solutions”. “The NexMeter, whose first version was already extremely innovative due to its advanced sensors and safety functions, has in this new phase achieved greater component sustainability and hydrogen compatibility” – states Cristiano Nardi, Executive Chairman of the Pietro Fiorentini Group – The project’s success confirms Pietro Fiorentini’s commitment towards establishing a continuous and constructive dialogue with our partners Hera and Panasonic, in order to work together in creating technologically advanced, competitive and fully environmentally friendly solutions, all of which are very important issues for our Group.” Press Release Green Nexmeter.pdf 2020-07-02 12:15:00 Nexmeter
25/11/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera wins waste management tender in the Bologna area

2021-11-25 The winning proposal for the Bologna area, submitted by a consortium led by the Hera Group, focuses on sustainability, innovation and creating shared value. The contract with Atersir, the regulatory agency and contracting station representing the 50 municipalities involved, will last 15 years and have a total value coming to over 1.7 billion euro. Sede Hera The Emilia-Romagna Territorial Agency for Water and Waste Services (Atersir), acting as regulatory agency and contracting station, has officially awarded the tender for urban and assimilated waste management in the Bologna area to the temporary consortium (RTI) formed by Hera S.p.A., Giacomo Brodolini Soc. Coop and Consorzio Stabile Ecobi. The figures of the tender won by the consortium led by the Hera Group The contract awarded concerns 50 municipalities in the Bologna area, including the capital city, and a total of approximately 1 million inhabitants. As requested during the tender, the temporary consortium led by the Hera Group –the current manager of the service in the same municipalities – will make significant investments to extend the ‘pay as you throw’ waste collection model to the entire area, with the aim of minimising the amount of non-sorted waste and increasing the quantity destined to be recycled. The contract, which will be signed in the coming weeks by Hera and Atersir, has a total value of over 1.7 billion euro and a timespan of 15 years. More sustainability and increasing shared value for communities Thanks to the excellent operational skills of Hera and the other companies in the contracted consortium, the area covered by the service contract will be provided with collection methods based on innovative services and equipment, strongly oriented towards sustainability, waste reduction and an increase in the amount of recycled materials. More dialogue and better environmental performance The key principles underpinning the offer presented by the consortium led by Hera are awareness-raising and the active involvement of citizens and businesses, in order to encourage a reduction in the amount of waste, especially non-sorted waste, and an increasing focus on sorted waste collection. In fact, experience in this field shows that – regardless of the collection method proposed – the environmental performance of waste is better where the community is more aware of its role. For this reason, right from the first months of the new service contract, Hera will launch progressive communication and information campaigns aimed at increasing citizen involvement, and in so doing, further improving the service quality, with a view to creating increasing shared value for local communities. Chairman Tommasi: “a confirmation of the Group’s service quality and competitiveness” “We are particularly satisfied with this tender awarded for urban and assimilated waste management in the Bologna area”, comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. “It ensures continuity for our services in this area, and corroborates our work in two senses. On the one hand, it confirms the quality of our operations in one of the activities in which Hera has excelled since its establishment. On the other, it highlights the Group’s competitiveness in the waste management sector, even when dealing with tenders at European-level, for which we have developed specific skills that continue to generate positive effects for the company and for local communities.” CEO Venier: “alongside Municipalities for the transition to the circular economy” “With this assignment, the 50 municipalities covered by the new service contract have all the tools they need to face the challenges of the transition towards increasingly advanced and sustainable urban waste management and, more generally, towards a truly circular economy”, states Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group. "These objectives, thanks to our support and expertise, have now become realistic and concrete. They cannot however be achieved without one fundamental element: the involvement and collaboration of people, who remain at the heart of our strategy". The 50 municipalities in the province of Bologna covered by the tender Alto Reno Terme, Baricella, Bentivoglio, Bologna, Borgo Tossignano, Budrio, Camugnano, Casalecchio di Reno, Casalfiumanese, Castel d'Aiano, Castel del Rio, Castel di Casio, Castel Guelfo di Bologna, Castel San Pietro Terme, Castello d'Argile, Castenaso, Castiglione dei Pepoli, Dozza, Firenzuola, Fontanelice, Gaggio Montano, Galliera, Granarolo dell'Emilia, Grizzana Morandi, Imola, Lizzano in Belvedere, Loiano, Malalbergo, Marradi, Marzabotto, Medicina, Minerbio, Molinella, Monghidoro, Monte San Pietro, Monterenzio, Monzuno, Mordano, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Palazzuolo sul Senio, Pianoro, Pieve di Cento, San Benedetto Val di Sambro, San Giorgio di Piano, San Lazzaro di Savena, San Pietro in Casale, Sasso Marconi, Valsamoggia, Vergato, Zola Predosa. Press release Waste tender Bologna.pdf 2020-07-02 13:11:00 Sede Hera
13/11/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Dow Jones Sustainability Index: Hera once again world sustainability leader in Multi-Utility & Water

2021-11-13 DJSI 2021 For the second year in a row, the Group leads its sector giving further recognition to Hera’s strategy, which combines attention towards sustainability with creating shared value DJSI 2021 The Hera Group has once again been confirmed as the world’s best multi-utility in ESG dimensions by S&P Global that selects the companies to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI). S&P Global has indeed announced the new ranking - effective as of November 22, 2021 - for its authoritative international stock exchange indices, which assesses the social responsibility of listed companies, based on sustainability performances for ESG factors. For the second consecutive year, Hera has been included in both the global (Dow Jones Sustainability World Index) and European (Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index) indices, ranked best in the sector. The Group further raised its sector benchmark, achieving an overall score of 90/100 (improving compared to the 87/100 seen in 2020), against a sector average of 39/100. The ratings achieved: 92/100 in Environment, 90/100 in Economic & Governance and 88/100 in Social, reaching the highest sector score in all the three dimensions. This recognition is fully in line with the consensus found in ESG assessments thanks to a strategy focused on sustainable value creation in the last 20 years. Hera’s stock has been recently included in the MIB ESG Index, Italy’s first blue-chip index dedicated to Environmental, Social and Governance best practices, launched by Euronext and Borsa Italiana. DJSI 2021 Press release Hera included in DJSI 2021.pdf 2020-07-02 14:00:00 DJSI 2021
11/11/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera awarded waste management tender for the Modena area

2021-11-11 The bid for the Modena area made by a temporary consortium led by Hera won thanks to its focus on sustainability, innovation and creating shared value. The contract with Atersir, the regulatory agency and contracting station on behalf of the 32 municipalities involved, will extend over a period of 15 years and will have a value of over 880 million euro. Sede Hera The Emilia-Romagna Territorial Agency for Water and Waste Services (Atersir), the regulatory agency and contracting station, has officially awarded the tender for urban and assimilated waste management in the Modean area to the temporary group of companies (RTI) made up of Hera S.p.A., Giacomo Brodolini Soc. Coop and Consorzio Stabile Ecobi. The numbers of the tender won by the consortium led by the Hera Group The contract concerns 32 municipalities in the Modena area, including the city of Modena, covering an area with approximately 490,000 inhabitants overall. As requested during the tender, the temporary consortium led by the Hera Group – the outgoing manager of this service for the same municipalities – will make significant investments to extend methods for collection over the entire served area that allow waste to be measured precisely, with the aim of minimising the amount of non-sorted waste delivered and increasing the quantity sent for recycling. The contract, to be signed in the upcoming months by Hera and Atersir, has a total value of over 880 million euro and a fifteen-year timespan. More sustainability and increased shared value for communities Thanks to the strong operational skills possessed by Hera and the other companies forming the temporary consortium to which was awarded the contract, the geographical area included in the service contract will be provided with collection models presenting innovative services and equipment, highly oriented towards sustainability, reduced waste and an increase in recycled materials. Innovation and sustainability, in any case, are values that Hera expressly pursued since the earliest stages of the tender, whose concreteness is proven by the results in terms of the percentage of sorted collection already achieved by the municipalities managed in the Modena area, with unit-pricing collection systems. The Ecosistema Urbano report published this week by Legambiente and Sole 24 Ore, which compares Italy’s capital cities, has also certified Ferrara’s leading position in terms of the percentage of sorted waste collected, for the third year in a row. This city is served by Hera with collection systems based on unit pricing, similar to those foreseen for Modena and the other municipalities in the Modena area. More dialogue and better environmental performances The key principles underpinning the bid submitted by the consortium led by Hera consist in awareness raising and a more active involvement of citizens and businesses, in order to encourage a reduction in the overall amount of waste, especially non-sorted waste, and ever-stronger emphasis on sorted waste collection. In fact, the experience gained until now shows that – regardless of the collection model proposed – the environmental performance of waste collection is better when a community is more aware of its own role. This is why, right from the earliest months of the new service contract, Hera will launch progressive communication and information campaigns aimed at increasing citizen involvement, and in so doing, further increasing the quality of the service, with a view to creating even more shared value for local communities. Executive Chairman Tommasi: “a confirmation of service quality and of the Group’s competitiveness” “We are particularly satisfied with being awarded the tender for managing urban and assimilated waste in the Modena area, comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. “This will give continuity to our presence in this area, and provides confirmation of two essential facts: on the one hand, the quality of our work with one of the activities that, since its inception, have characterized Hera's excellence, and on the other, the competitiveness that the Group has reached in the waste management sector. This is the case even when dealing with European-level tenders, for which we have developed specific skills that continue to generate positive effects for the company and for local communities.” CEO Venier: “alongside the municipalities in the transition to the circular economy” “With this tender, the 32 municipalities included in the new service contract have all the tools they need to face the challenge of the transition towards increasingly advanced and sustainable urban waste management and, more generally, towards a truly circular economy”, says Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group. “These objectives, thanks to our support and expertise, have now become realistic and concrete. They could not however be achieved without one fundamental element: the involvement and collaboration of people, who remain at the heart of our strategy.” The 32 municipalities in the province of Modena covered by the tender Bastiglia, Bomporto, Castelfranco Emilia, Castelnuovo Rangone, Castelvetro di Modena, Fanano, Fiorano Modenese, Fiumalbo, Formigine, Frassinoro, Guiglia, Lama Mocogno, Maranello, Marano sul Panaro, Modena, Montecreto, Montefiorino, Montese, Palagano, Pavullo nel Frignano, Pievepelago, Polinago, Prignano, Riolunato, San Cesario sul Panaro, Sassuolo, Savignano sul Panaro, Serramazzoni, Sestola, Spilamberto, Vignola and Zocca. Risultati trimestrali Press release Modena waste management tender.pdf 2020-07-02 15:31:00 Sede Hera
10/11/2021
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Hera BoD approves 3Q 2021 results

2021-11-10 The Group consolidates the first nine months of the year with operating-financial indicators showing growth compared to the same period in 2020, and results exceeding the expectations set out in the Business Plan. Financial solidity, the pursuit of sustainable development and creating value for the local areas and communities served confirmed as strong points Risultati trimestrali Financial highlights Revenues at 6,424.3 million euro (+31%) Ebitda at 883.3 million euro (+9.6%) Net profit for shareholders at 308.4 million euro (+32.3%) Net financial debt at 3,303.8 million, with Net debt/Ebitda at 2.75x Operating highlights Strategy based on a mix of internal and external growth Significant contribution coming from the gas area, energy services and the waste management sector Over 3.4 million energy customers reached Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated quarterly report at 30 September 2021. The report shows improvement in the main economic indicators compared to the same period of the previous year, confirming the Group’s long track record of positive performances, its financial solidity and its commitment to sustainable development, respecting European strategies and the UN 2030 Agenda. The most significant results include an increase coming to over 77 million euro in Ebitda, mainly owing to free market activities – especially gas sales, energy services and waste treatment – whose pro-cyclical nature enabled the Group to take full advantage of the opportunities arising from the country’s economic recovery and revival initiatives, while at the same time creating value for the local areas and communities served. A sharp increase was also seen in net profits for shareholders, which in this quarter includes the effects of the tax realignment of certain goodwill items. In July, a dividend amounting to 161 million euro was paid to shareholders, corresponding to 11 cents per share, up 10% compared to the previous year. From a broader point of view, the results for the first three quarters of the year show growth not only with respect to 2020, but also compared to the results for 2019, prior to the impact of the global pandemic. The current results are higher than the expectations contained in the Business Plan to 2024: in less than two years, Hera has achieved more than half of the growth forecast for the five-year period covered by this Plan. The Group’s strategy therefore continues to prove successful, promoting both organic growth and mergers and acquisitions, and protecting results achieved from the turbulence seen in the external context. The more noteworthy changes in the scope of consolidation include three M&A transactions in the industrial waste treatment area, with the acquisition of 70% of the Friuli-based company Recycla, 31% of the company Sea, located in the Marche, and 80% of the Vallortigara Group, which operates in the Veneto region. The energy areas, instead, saw the acquisitions of Wölmann, a company operating in photovoltaic panel installation, the sales company Ecogas, in Abruzzo, and 11% of Ascotrade from the Belluno company Gsp, thus arriving at 100% control. At the same time, continued growth was seen in the Group’s energy customer base, now over 3.4 million, thanks to increases in both liberalised markets and those subject to public tenders. Lastly, as regards regulated services, the Hera Group has won the tenders called to date in the areas served, in the waste management, gas distribution and integrated water service areas. Note in particular the recent confirmation of gas distribution in the Udine 2 ATEM and, last week, in the water cycle, serving 24 municipalities in the province of Rimini, including the city of Rimini. Revenues rise to over 6.4 billion euro In the first nine months of 2021, revenues amounted to 6,424.3 million euro, up 31.0% from 4,905.9 million-euro one year earlier, with growth seen in all areas. More specifically, the energy areas felt the effects of higher revenues from trading, higher volumes of gas sold and an increase in the price of energy commodities, in addition to the energy services business, due to the activities related to the insulation incentive and energy efficiency works. Revenues from network services (both regulated and on behalf of third parties) and the waste management area also increased, due to energy production, more waste treated and an increase in plastics sold. Ebitda increases to 883.3 million euro Ebitda increased by 77.1 million, or 9.6%, over the 806.2 million seen in the first nine months of 2020, rising to 883.3 million at 30 September 2021. This increase is linked to the performance of the energy areas, mainly thanks to gas sales and energy trading, as well as energy service activities. Another decisive factor consisted in the positive results recorded in the waste management sector, particularly in the waste treatment area. Operating result grows to 470.8 million euro Operating profit rose to 470.8 million euro, compared to 414.7 million at 30 September 2020, showing a 13.5% increase (despite higher expenses for depreciation and amortisation). Financial operations at the end of 3Q 2021 amounted to 85.4 million euro, mainly due to lower income from late payment indemnities on last resort markets and higher charges for the sale of tax credits as part of ecobonus-related activities. These aspects were partially offset by the efficiencies achieved following the repurchase of part of the medium- to long-term debt, lower updating expenses and higher profits from subsidiaries and joint ventures. Pre-tax profits increased from 335.2 to 385.4 million euro (+15%). Net profit for shareholders rises to 308.4 million euro Net profit rose to 340.6 million euro, up significantly by 39.2% from 244.7 million euro in the same period during the previous year, thanks to a tax rate that settled at 26.2%, improving compared to the 27% recorded at 30 September 2020, due to the Group’s commitment to supporting substantial investments in technological, digital and environmental transformation towards Utility 4.0. The increase is also linked to the amount consisting in special items, which contributed with 56.2 million euro, as result of the tax realignment of certain goodwill items recorded in the financial statements, offset by the expenses arising from the partial repurchase, last spring, of a 700 million euro bond maturing in 2028. Net profit post minorities also increased sharply, rising to 308.4 million euro from 233.1 million euro at 30 September 2020 (+32.3%). Operating investments at 377.2 million euro and stable net financial debt In the first nine months of 2021, Hera made operating investments coming to 377.2 million euro, an increase of over 13% compared to the 333.6 million euro seen in the same period of the previous year, with an important focus on the projects, including green initiatives foreseen in the Business Plan. These investments were mainly allocated to plants, networks and infrastructures, as well as regulatory upgrading in purification and sewage and a large-scale installation of new-generation gas meters. In addition to financing these investments and paying increased dividends, the positive cash flow generation also made it possible to cover the repurchase of maturing bonds and a large portion of the M&A transactions, keeping net financial debt essentially stable at 3,303.8 million euro in the first nine months of 2021, in line with the 3,227.0 million euro seen at 31 December 2020. Hera’s financial strength – which is also clear from the assessments made by the main rating agencies: BBB+ with stable outlook from Standard & Poor’s, Baa2 from Moody’s - is also confirmed by the Net debt/Ebitda ratio, which stood at 2.75x, an improvement compared to the 2.87x seen at the end of 2020 and 2.97x at 30 September 2020. These aspects go hand in hand with the pursuit of sustainable development, as confirmed by Hera’s recent inclusion in the MIB ESG Index, Italy’s first blue-chip index dedicated to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) best practices. In October, furthermore, Hera successfully launched its first sustainability-linked bond, worth 500 million euro, gathering great interest from international investors, who subscribed with roughly four times the amount offered. This bond is part of a sustainability strategy aimed at reducing emissions and recycling plastics. At the same time, after the end of the quarter, the Group carried out a liability management transaction to repurchase nominal 350 million euro in financing maturing in the next few years, with effects that will be recorded at year-end. Gas Ebitda for the gas area – which includes natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and heat management services – rose to 333.4 million euro as at 30 September 2021, up 33.4% compared to 249.9 million euro in the same period last year. This growth, in terms of both revenues and volumes sold, was achieved thanks to the positive contribution coming from sales on traditional markets and on those subject to tenders, where Hera Comm has further consolidated its presence (with 8 lots of the last resort gas service awarded in 16 regions, 5 lots of the default gas service in 12 regions, effective as of October 2020, and 9 lots of the Consip GAS13 tender in 12 regions). These increased earnings are linked to significant rise in the energy services business, due to incentives deriving from tax bonuses and energy efficiency works, confirming the significant growth trend in this sector already recorded in the previous quarters of the year. A slight increase (+1%) was seen in the number of customers, which totalled 2 million. Furthermore, note that, from October 2021 until September 2023, Hera Comm has been awarded all lots of the default gas service tender and 6 out of 9 lots of the last resort gas service. The gas accounted for 37.7% of Group Ebitda. Water At 30 September 2021, the integrated water cycle area – which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services – recorded an Ebitda coming to 198.5 million, essentially unchanged from the 201.1 million euro seen in the first three quarters of 2020. This result is due to higher operating costs on networks and plants as a result of resuming activities after the lockdown, partially offset by a rise in revenues for new connections and higher other revenues. This also includes the benefits recognised by ARERA under the application of the new tariff method, linked to the significant investments made by the Group to implement measures aimed at resilience and sustainability in its plants, enabling it to continue guaranteeing citizens quality, efficiency and continuity of supply. Lastly, thanks to a bid geared towards sustainability and creating value, Hera was awarded the tender for integrated water cycle services for 18 years in 24 municipalities in the province of Rimini, including the capital city, with a contract worth approximately 1.7 billion euro. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 22.5% of Group Ebitda. Waste Ebitda for the waste management area – which includes waste collection, treatment, recovery and disposal services – rose to 218.4 million euro (+19.1%) as at 30 September 2021, compared to 183.3 million euro in the same period one year earlier. This growth was achieved thanks to the ability shown by the Hera Group – the nation’s leading operator in the sector – to make the most of the opportunities offered by this pro-cyclical business, i.e. one that is able to take advantage of the current economic recovery and the general recovery of markets after the lockdown. In fact, Hera has further augmented its outstanding set of plants with a series of transactions in the field of industrial waste treatment and environmental reclamation and restoration. The increase in earnings was caused by higher revenues linked to the increase in volumes of waste treated and electricity generation, and by the strong growth of the activities carried out by the subsidiary Aliplast, a leader in producing high-quality recycled polymers, against a significant increase in demand and in the selling price of recycled materials. In general, in the early months of 2021 as well, the Group continued to pursue all main initiatives related to the circular economy through front-line technologies and innovative structures. These include the production of renewable energy by developing the biomethane chain, including a collaboration with other companies found in the areas served. Hera has indeed signed a partnership with the company Inalca, part of the Cremonini Group, to establish a NewCo for transforming organic waste and agricultural waste into 100% renewable methane and compost. Lastly, Hera Business Solution, a turnkey multi-service offer for large companies, with integrated energy and environmental solutions all guided by sustainability, saw a further increase in its activities. The Group’s focus on protecting and reusing environmental resources was also confirmed by the increase in sorted waste collection, which stood at 64.8% in the first nine months of 2021, up slightly compared to the same period of 2020. The waste management area accounted for 24.7% of Group Ebitda. Electricity At 30 September 2021, Ebitda for the electricity area – which includes services in electricity generation, distribution and sales – amounted to 103.5 million euro, compared to 144.8 million euro in the first three quarters of the previous year. This result was mainly due to lower income from the dispatching market. Furthermore, a smaller scope of operations was seen in safeguarded markets, following the last tender awarded, in late 2020. These trends were partially contained by contributions to commercial growth in traditional markets and in new managed services, with innovative offers, value-added services and increasing investments to improve customer experience and customer segmentation. Furthermore, last June Hera Comm was awarded, through a tender, the gradual protection service for supplying electricity to SMEs in 9 Italian regions, for the period extending from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024. At 30 September 2021, electricity customers totalled 1.4 million, up 5.4% compared to the first three quarters of the previous year. The electricity area accounted for 11.7% 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 Quarterly Financial Statement and related materials are available to the public at Company Headquarters and on the website www.gruppohera.it. Unaudited extracts from the Intermediate Financial Report at 30 September 2021 are attached Profit & Loss (m€) 30/09/2021 Inc. % 30/09/2020 Inc. % Ch. Ch. % Sales 6,242.3 4,905.9 +1,518.4 +31.0% Other operating revenues 243.6 3.8% 355.7 7.3% (112.1) (31.5%) Raw material (3,469.3) (54.0%) (2,314.9) (47.2%) +1,154.4 +49.9% Services costs (1,858.6) (28.9%) (1,696.9) (34.6%) +161.7 +9.5% Other operating expenses (54.4) (0.8%) (41.8) (0.9%) +12.6 +30.2% Personnel costs (442.0) (6.9%) (424.0) (8.6%) +18.0 +4.2% Capitalisations 39.7 0.6% 22.2 0.5% +17.5 +79.0% Ebitda 883.3 13.7% 806.2 16.4% +77.1 +9.6% Depreciation and provisions (412.5) (6.4%) (391.5) (8.0%) +21.0 +5.4% Ebit 470.8 7.3% 414.7 8.5% +56.1 +13.5% Financial inc./(exp.) (85.4) (1.3%) (79.5) (1.6%) +5.9 +7.4% Pre tax profit 385.4 6.0% 335.2 6.8% +50.2 +15.0% Taxes (101.0) (1.6%) (90.5) (1.8%) +10.5 +11.6% Net profit 284.4 4.4% 244.7 5.0% +39.7 +16.2% Special items 56.2 0.9% - 0.0% +56.2 +100.0% Net profit 340.6 5.3% 244.7 5.0% +95.9 +39.2% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 308.4 4.8% 233.1 4.8% +75.3 +32.3% Minority shareholders 32.2 0.5% 11.6 0.2% +20.6 +177.9% Balance Sheet (m€) 30/09/2021 Inc.% 31/12/2020 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Net fixed assets 7,146.6 104.4% 6,983.6 109.4% +163.0 +2.3% Working capital 360.0 5.3% 53.6 0.8% +306.4 +571.6% (Provisions) (658.5) (9.7%) (654.9) (10.2%) (3.6) +0.5% Net invested capital 6,848.1 100.0% 6,382.3 100.0% +465.8 +7.3% Net equity 3,544.3 51.8% 3,155.3 49.4% +389.0 +12.3% Long term net financial debt 3,490.0 51.0% 3,617.1 56.7% (127.1) (3.5%) Short term net financial debt (186.2) (2.8%) (390.1) (6.1%) +203.9 (52.3%) Net financial debts 3,303.8 48.2% 3,227.0 50.6% +76.8 +2.4% Net invested capital 6,848.1 100.0% 6,382.3 100.0% +465.8 +7.3% Risultati trimestrali Press release 3Q 2021 results.pdf 2020-07-02 13:30:00 Risultati trimestrali
05/11/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera wins tender for the water service in Rimini

2021-11-05 The Group was awarded the tender thanks to a bid focused on sustainability and value creation. An 18-year contract worth approximately 1.7 billion euro will be signed with Atersir, the contracting authority, in the upcoming months Sede Hera The Emilia-Romagna Regional Agency for Water and Waste Services (Atersir), acting as contracting authority, has officially awarded Hera the tender for managing the integrated water service in the province of Rimini (Emilia-Romagna region), with the exception of the municipality of Maiolo. The figures of the tender won by the Hera Group The tender concerns 24 municipalities in the Rimini area, including the province’s capital, and over 160,000 thousand users, distributed along a network extending over 3,000 km. Thanks to this tender, one of the first to be called in Italy, the new water distribution service in the Rimini area will be based on sustainability and innovation, and the Hera Group, which is also the outgoing manager for the 24 municipalities, will be responsible for the service over the next 18 years. The contract, which will be signed in the upcoming months between the Group and Atersir, is worth over 1.7 billion euro. Competition that creates shared value for communities In order to maintain management of this service, in a competitive context open to the most qualified operators in the water sector, the Hera Group has drawn up a proposal capable of reconciling service efficiency, and therefore economic impact, with best practices that guarantee high safety standards. Asset management and environmental aspects will thus be monitored by using innovative technologies that have already been operationally tested. Hera is also focusing on innovation to guarantee resilience in the management of the water cycle, a service characterised by a large number of infrastructures and therefore, more than other sectors, subject to the consequences of climate change. In addition to the high service quality already guaranteed by the Group in this area, the new management will therefore make substantial investments to increase the resilience of networks and plants and create increasing shared value for local communities. 250 million in investments to increase safety and resilience The Hera Group’s plan calls for a substantial part of the approximately 250 million euro planned for investments in the Rimini area over the next 18 years to be used to prevent and limit leaks, to upgrade the network and to further increase its reliability and resilience, thus providing the best guarantee of service continuity. The investment plan also includes measures to optimise the sewage system and upgrade the purification plants, as well as solutions for the implementation of rainwater collection plans. In order to increasingly improve the efficiency of networks and plants, the use of more traditional techniques will be enhanced with digitalisation and the most advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and big data, already used by the multi-utility in other areas, for example to optimise maintenance activities or increase energy savings in purification. The Group’s proposal also guarantees a level of service that goes significantly beyond the standards required by ARERA, the Regulatory Authority, both in terms of the contractual quality inherent in relations with the user, and in terms of technical standards. Chairman Tommasi: “from competition in public services shared value for the territory” We are particularly satisfied with the awarded tender for managing the integrated water service for the province of Rimini”, explains Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. “We have always made our outstanding know-how available to the areas in which we operate, not only in terms of safety and service management, but also environmental sustainability, all of which will be confirmed and reinforced with the start of the new management. Tenders, not only in the water cycle, represent a challenge that the Group has prepared itself to face for some time. This achievement demonstrates once again how important it is for us, in addition to providing service quality and continuity, to invest and create positive effects for local communities.” CEO Venier: “local jobs and professional skills maintained” “The spirit with which we will sign this long term contract with Atersir for the integrated water service in the 24 municipalities of the Rimini area has nothing to do with simply continuing to manage it”, says Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group. “In addition to maintaining local jobs and professional skills, we intend to create new value for Rimini and the municipalities managed.” The 24 municipalities found in the Province of Rimini involved in the tender Bellaria-Igea Marina, Casteldelci, Cattolica, Coriano, Gemmano, Misano Adriatico, Mondaino, Montecolombo Montescudo, Montefiore Conca, Montegridolfo, Morciano di Romagna, Novafeltria, Pennabilli, Poggio Torriana, Riccione, Rimini, Saludecio, San Clemente, San Giovanni in Marignano, San Leo, Sant’Agata Feltria, Santarcangelo di Romagna, Talamello and Verucchio. Press releaase Hera wins tender for the water service in Rimini.pdf 2020-07-02 08:36:00 Sede Hera
28/10/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Four lots of the Consip tender go to Hera Comm

2021-10-28 The Hera Group’s sales company has been awarded the lots for the Province of Rome, Campania, Calabria and Sicily, involving roughly 39,000 supply points and an annual supply of over 3.4 TWh of electricity, worth more than 580 million euro. Sede Hera Hera Comm will supply electricity to Public Administrations in the Province of Rome, Campania, Calabria and Sicily. The Hera Group’s sales company has in fact been awarded 4 of the lots put to tender by Consip, worth over 580 million euro, meaning that Hera will serve approximately 39,000 supply points overall, providing over 3.4 TWh of energy. The agreement will be effective as of the end of the year and will have a total duration of up to 24 months, depending on the supply option chosen, with a fixed or variable price. Hera Comm won this tender thanks to its advantageous economic offer, which also includes a Green Option, with 50% of the energy supplied coming from renewable sources. The Hera Group has thus confirmed itself as a leading player on the Italian energy scene, with 3.4 million customers, the third largest among Italian sales companies. Hera Comm has a well-established relationship with Consip, this being the third consecutive year in which it has been awarded lots in tenders called by Consip, for the supply of both electricity and gas. Press release Hera Comm energy tender Public Administration.pdf 2020-07-02 14:34:00 Sede Hera
19/10/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Final results of the tender offer relating to certain notes

2021-10-19 Sede Hera Following the press release dated 11 October 2021, notice is hereby given that today BNP Paribas S.A. announced the final results of the tender offer launched by it, in its capacity as offeror (the “Offeror”), on 11 October 2021 pursuant to the agreements entered into with Hera S.p.A. (the “Company”), addressed to qualified investors only and relating to (i) the €500,000,000 2.375 per cent. Notes due 4 July 2024 (ISIN: XS1084043451) (the “2024 Notes”), (ii) the Euro 400,000,000 0.875 per cent. Notes due 14 October 2026 (ISIN: XS1504194173) (the “2026 Notes”), (iii) the €500,000,000 0.875 per cent. Notes due 5 July 2027 (ISIN: XS2020608548) (the “2027 Notes”) and (iv) the €700,000,000 5.200 per cent. Fixed Rate Notes due 29 January 2028 (ISIN: XS0880764435) (the “2028 Notes” and together with the 2024 Notes, the 2026 Notes and the 2027 Notes, the “Existing Notes”) up to a nominal amount to be determined by the Offeror at its own discretion up to Euro 300,000,000, such amount being subject to the right of the Offeror to increase or decrease it in its sole and absolute discretion (the “Tender Offer”). The Existing Notes validly tendered for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer are equal to Euro 352,910,000 and namely Euro 41,088,000 in principal amount of 2024 Notes, Euro 127,468,000 in principal amount of 2026 Notes, Euro 142,841,000 in principal amount of 2027 Notes and Euro 41,513,000 in principal amount of 2028 Notes. The Offeror has announced its intention to accept for purchase all the 2024 Notes, the 2027 Notes and the 2028 Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer and to accept for purchase the 2026 Notes for an aggregate principal amount equal to Euro 74,557,000. The payments due pursuant to the Tender Offer are expected to be made by the Offeror on 20 October 2021. Simultaneously with, but separately from, the Tender Offer, the Company will purchase, through the Offeror, a portion of the €68,000,000 3.375 per cent. Fixed Rate Notes due 22 May 2023 (ISIN: XS0935948272) issued by the Company and privately placed to a limited number of investors for an aggregate principal amount equal to Euro 46,000,000. Press release.pdf 2020-07-02 17:56:00 Sede Hera
18/10/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera included in the new MIB ESG Index

2021-10-18 Being part of Italy’s first blue-chip index, launched today by Euronext and Borsa Italiana and dedicated to ESG best practices, gives Hera additional recognition for its focus on sustainability and creating shared value for all stakeholders Sede Hera The Hera Group has received yet another significant recognition, a reward for its way of integrating financial strategies and attention to sustainability: Hera has been included in the MIB ESG Index (Bloomberg gross return code: MIBESG), Italy’s first blue-chip index dedicated to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) best practices. Announced today by Euronext and Borsa Italiana, the MIB ESG Index combines measurements of operating performance with ESG assessments, in line with the principles of the United Nations Global Compact. Inclusion in this index is based on an analysis by Vigeo Eiris, a Moody’s ESG Solutions company, and is designed to meet growing investor and market demand for sustainable investment instruments. The creation of this index is an important step in accelerating the transition to a sustainable economy and allowing investors to fund high-impact projects and companies in Italy and Europe. The index’s methodology was designed in a collaboration with the financial community, public institutions and regulatory authorities. Its main goals include facilitating the adoption of traditional ESG investment approaches by public and private investors and gathering consensus for sustainable and responsible investments. After being included one year ago in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, World and Europe, with recognition as the best multi-utility worldwide by S&P Global, with today's inclusion in the MIB ESG Index, Hera’s successful corporate strategy has been further confirmed. The combination of growth in results and sustainability, alongside creating value for all stakeholders, defines the path taken by Hera ever since it was founded, 20 years ago. The Group’s Business Plans themselves highlight its various sustainability objectives – circularity, decarbonisation, risk management – to 2024 and 2030. Broken down by business area, these goals are based on investments that increase asset resilience, innovation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and big data. More specifically, the Hera Group’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target is one of the most ambitious among Italian companies: 37% less by 2030 compared to 2019, as certified by the prestigious international network Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). Hera aims in particular to meet the “Well below 2°C” objective, conceived to limit the increase in global temperature to significantly less than 2°C compared to pre-industrial data, in line with the path set out by the Paris Climate Agreement. In addition to steadily improving its operating and financial results, Hera’s focus on ESG factors is accompanied by its stable governance, unique in the sector and rewarded this year with the highest ranking in Italy in the Integrated Governance Index, compiled by ETicaNews. A pioneer in the field of sustainable finance since it launched Italy’s first green bond in 2014, Hera successfully issued a sustainability-linked bond amounting to 500 million euro only a few days ago. A high level of interest was shown by international investors, whose subscriptions came to roughly four times the amount offered. This non-convertible bond’s issuance is linked to targets in reducing emissions and recycling plastics. Two years ago, Hera was also the first company in Italy to launch a sustainable revolving credit line, introducing a bonus mechanism linked to achieving specific environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives. Green and, more generally, ESG financial instruments represent a fundamental lever with which Hera creates value and supports its commitment to increasingly regenerative and resilient development. Press release Hera included in the new MIB ESG Index.pdf 2020-07-02 16:27:00 Sede Hera
13/10/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera successfully launches its first sustainability-linked bond

2021-10-13 Strong interest shown by international investors towards the 500 million euro, 12-and-a-half-year bond. The issue is part of a strategy aimed at sustainability, intended to reduce emissions and recycle plastics. The subscriptions received totalled around two billion euro, four times the amount offered Sede Hera The Hera Group – a pioneer in sustainable finance in Italy – has successfully launched its first sustainability-linked bond, worth 500 million euro. This non-convertible bond attracted a great deal of interest from international investors, who made subscriptions coming to four times the amount offered. The issue is part of a strategy aimed at sustainability, intended to reduce emissions and recycle plastics. One of the first companies in Italy to issue a sustainability-linked bond, Hera continues to act as a point of reference for ESG finance nationwide, with innovative instruments capable not only of supporting its commitment to sustainable development but also attracting growing attention on the market. Hera – it is worth recalling – was the first company in Italy to issue a green bond, in 2014, followed by a second green bond five years later, as well as the first ESG-linked revolving credit line, in 2018. Hera’s first sustainability-linked bond follows up on the publication, last 6 October, of its Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework (SLFF), with which the Group further strengthened the integration between its financial strategies and its attention to sustainability, outlining the metrics applicable to any financial instrument. The features of Hera’s sustainability-linked bond Hera’s first sustainability-linked bond, launched as part of the Euro Medium-Term Notes programme (last updated on 7 October) and reserved for qualified investors, amounts to a total of 500 million euro, repayable in 12 and a half years. The transaction saw significant participation coming from international investors (France, Germany, Netherland and United Kingdom), most of whom specialised in sustainable finance products. The strong demand, with subscriptions coming to around two billion euros, four times the offer, and the quality of the orders received, allowed the price to be set at an excellent level. An annual fixed rate coupon of 1.0% will be paid, while the yield at the time of issue is 1.077%. As of the interest payment date of 2032, a possible step-up (interest rate increase) has been included, should the Group fail to meet the targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes of CO2 (rate increase of 0.20%), and the quantity of recycled plastic, in thousand tonnes (rate increase of 0.15%). The new issue, whose settlement date has been set for 25 October 2021, will be listed, as of the issue date, on the regulated market of Euronext Dublin, on the regulated market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and, at a later moment, on Borsa Italiana’s ExtraMOT PRO multilateral trading facility. This sustainability-linked bond is also expected to be assigned a rating in line with Hera’s (Baa2 with stable outlook for Moody’s and BBB+ with stable outlook for Standard & Poor’s). Interventions aimed at reducing emissions and recycling plastics The sustainability-linked bond is part of the Hera Group’s strategy aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the amount of plastic recycled. These activities have already been launched or are included in the Business Plan, and represent Hera’s commitment to achieving the objectives on the UN 2030 Agenda. The bond is linked, as mentioned above, to meeting the sustainability targets contained in the Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework, with respect to which intermediate Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs) have also been defined, which will be reported annually for the purpose of transparency. More specifically, the Hera Group aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37% within 2030 (compared to 2019), thanks to both the concrete actions taken within the Group and the involvement of suppliers and customers in electricity and gas sales. This is one of the most ambitious targets for a company in Italy, validated by the prestigious international network Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). As regards the second target, the Group aims to increase its amount of recycled plastic by 150% by 2030 (compared to 2017), thanks to factors including an increased plant capacity and an extension of the scope of action to include the recovery of rigid plastics. Hera is already a leader in this area, thanks to its subsidiary Aliplast, and is the only Italian multi-utility to have signed the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s “New Plastics Economy Global Commitment”. “Our first sustainability-linked bond provides further confirmation of Hera’s commitment to sustainable development, with a focus on carbon neutrality and the circular economy, thanks to ESG financial strategies” states Stefano Venier, CEO of Hera Group “For some time, we have been committed to actions aimed at reducing emissions and recycling plastics, thus respecting our Business Plan and strategies for the energy and environmental transition. These issues are particularly relevant for us, considering the very nature of the businesses in which we operate, and we can make a real difference by responding to the many challenges we are currently facing, first and foremost climate change, and contributing to achieving the goals on the 2030 Agenda. Thanks to this new bond issued, we will be able to give further impetus to our activities in these areas.” The partners in the operation Hera’s sustainability-linked bond issue was coordinated and placed by BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole CIB, IMI-Intesa Sanpaolo, Mediobanca, Santander and UniCredit. The law firm Legance Avvocati Associati assisted Hera, while Linklaters supported the placing banks. Press release sustainability linked bond launch.pdf 2020-07-02 18:23:00 Sede Hera
11/10/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

The BoD of Hera S.p.A. authorises the issue of new notes and the repurchase of certain notes

2021-10-11 Sede Hera The Board of Directors of HERA S.p.A. (the “Company”) has authorised the issue of new senior non-convertible notes, under its Euro Medium Term Notes Programme updated on 7 October 2021, up to an aggregate principal amount of Euro 500,000,000, to be placed with qualified investors only (the “Notes”), granting to the Chief Executive Officer the powers to decide on, and give effective execution to, the issue of the Notes, subject to market conditions. The Notes will be issued in the form of “Sustainability-linked bond” pursuant to the “Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework” published by the Company on 6 October 2021. Furthermore, pursuant to the agreements entered into today with the Company, BNP Paribas S.A., in its capacity as offeror (the “Offeror”), is in the process of announcing a cash tender offer addressed to qualified investors only and relating to (i) the €500,000,000 2.375 per cent. Notes due 4 July 2024 (of which €329,390,000 is outstanding as at the date of this announcement) (ISIN: XS1084043451) (the “2024 Notes”), (ii) the Euro 400,000,000 0.875 per cent. Notes due 14 October 2026 (ISIN: XS1504194173) (the “2026 Notes”), (iii) the €500,000,000 0.875 per cent. Notes due 5 July 2027 (ISIN: XS2020608548) (the “2027 Notes”) and (iv) the €700,000,000 5.200 per cent. Fixed Rate Notes due 29 January 2028 (of which €640,530,000 is outstanding as at the date of this announcemement) (ISIN: XS0880764435) (the “2028 Notes” and together with the 2024 Notes, the 2026 Notes and the 2027 Notes, the “Existing Notes”), up to a nominal amount to be determined by the Offeror at its own discretion up to Euro 300,000,000, such amount being subject to the right of the Offeror to increase or decrease it in its sole and absolute discretion (the “Tender Offer”). The purpose of the above transaction is mainly to manage the Company’s liabilities and extend its debt maturity profile. The Tender Offer, whose terms and conditions are set forth in the tender offer memorandum dated 11 October 2021 and available to the noteholders of the Existing Notes (the “Tender Offer Memorandum”), is, inter alia, subject to (i) the pricing of the Notes satisfactory to the Company, (ii) the signing of a subscription agreement for the purchase of the Notes (the “Subscription Agreement”) and (iii) such Subscription Agreement remaining in full force and effect as at the settlement date of the Tender Offer. The Offeror is not under any obligation to accept for purchase any Existing Notes tendered pursuant to the Tender Offer. The acceptance for purchase by the Offeror of Existing Notes is at the sole discretion of the Offeror and tenders may be rejected by the Offeror, in whole or in part, for any reason. The table below sets forth the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer. Notes Call date ISIN Outstanding Principal Amount Benchmark Purchase Spread Amount subject to the Offers / Final-Acceptance Amount €500,000,000 2.375 per cent. Notes due 4 July 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) N/A XS1084043451 €329.390.000 2024 Notes Interpolated Mid-Swap Rate 5 bps Subject as set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum up to a total aggregate principal amount of all Series of Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase of €300,000,000 such amount being subject to the right of the Offeror to increase or decrease it in its sole and absolute discretion €400,000,000 0.875 per cent. Notes due 14 October 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) N/A XS1504194173 €400.000.000 2026 Notes Interpolated Mid-Swap Rate 5 bps €500,000,000 0.875 per cent. Notes due 5 July 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) 5 April 2027 (the "First Call Date of the 2027 Notes") XS2020608548 €500.000.000 2027 Notes Interpolated Mid-Swap Rate 10 bps1 €700,000,000 5.200 per cent. Notes due 29 January 2028 (the “2028 Notes”) N/A XS0880764435 €640.530.000 2028 Notes Interpolated Mid-Swap Rate 5 bps 1For information purposes only, the purchase price for the 2027 Notes will be based on the First Call Date of the 2027 Notes. If the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Notes validly tendered for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer is greater than the amount of the Existing Notes that the Offeror intends to purchase, the relevant tenders will be accepted on a pro rata basis. The Tender Offer, which starts today, will expire on 18 October 2021, subject to the right of the Offeror to extend, re-open, amend and/or terminate it. The settlement date for the Tender Offer is expected to fall on 20 October 2021. Further information on the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are set out in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Simultaneously with, but separately from, the Tender Offer, the Company may also consider, at its sole discretion, to purchase, through the Offeror, in whole or in part, the €68,000,000 3.375 per cent. Fixed Rate Notes due 22 May 2023 (ISIN: XS0935948272) issued by the Company and privately placed to a limited number of investors. This notice does not constitute an invitation to participate in the Tender Offer in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to whom, it is unlawful to make such invitation or for there to be such participation under applicable securities laws and regulations. This notice does not constitute an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorised or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. The distribution of this notice or the Tender Offer Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and regulations. Persons into whose possession this notice comes are required to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions. Specific restrictions are included in the Tender Offer Memorandum. Press release Launch of new issue.pdf 2020-07-02 09:56:00 Sede Hera
06/10/2021
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Communication of the overall amount of voting rights

(drafted pursuant to article 85-bis, paragraph 4-bis, of Consob Regulation 11971 / 14 May 1999)
06/10/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera: sustainable finance increasingly at the heart of corporate strategies

2021-10-06 Hera is among the first companies in Italy to publish its Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework. An important point of reference also for issuing bonds in the future, its includes objectives linked to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and plastic recycling, in line with the Group’s Business Plan and strategies for energy and environmental transition The Hera Group – which pioneered sustainable finance in 2014, when it issued the first green bond in Italy – has further strengthened its integration between financial strategy and attention towards sustainability, with a focus on carbon neutrality and circular economy projects. The Group has in fact published – among the first companies in Italy to do so – its Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework (SLFF), which sets out the guidelines of its commitment to sustainable finance. This document outlines the metrics applicable to any financial instrument, and in particular provides a reference model for future bonds linked to reducing emissions and encouraging plastic recycling. More specifically, the Hera Group has introduced two key indicators in its SLFF, in line with the strategies outlined in the Business Plan for energy and environmental transition, and representative of Hera’s commitment to achieving the goals on the UN’s 2030 Agenda. The first concerns reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Hera aims to lower these emissions by 37% within 2030 (compared to 2019), thanks to both concrete interventions within the company and the involvement of suppliers and customers in electricity and gas sales. This is one of the most ambitious targets defined by a company in Italy, validated by the prestigious international network Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). The second is linked to the quantity of plastics recycled by the Group, an area in which it already shows leadership, through its subsidiary Aliplast. The only Italian multi-utility to have signed the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s “New Plastics Economy Global Commitment”, it will extend its commitment in this sector, through means including increasing its plant capacity and extending its range of action to the recovery of rigid plastics. The goal is to increase the amount of plastic recycled by 150% within 2030 (compared to 2017). In the spirit of transparency, which has always been one of Hera’s hallmarks, intermediate Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs) have also been defined with respect to the 2030 objectives, which will be reported annually. The Hera Group’s published SLFF now stands alongside its Green Financing Framework (GFF) – adopted by the company in 2019 – and responds to the growing attention shown by international investors towards sustainable financial instruments. This is an area in which Hera has always invested: after issuing the first green bond in Italy in 2014, the Group in fact offered a second “green” bond in 2019 and, in 2018, was the first company to launch an ESG-linked revolving credit line in this country. “With the Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework, we have consolidated the link between our financial strategies and the attention to sustainability which has always characterised us, for reasons including the very nature of the businesses we manage”, states Luca Moroni, Group Manager of Administration, Finance and Control. “Green financial instruments and, more generally, ESG criteria are in fact a fundamental lever to create value and support our commitment to an increasingly regenerative and resilient development. In particular, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and recycling plastics are particularly relevant areas for us, where we want to and can make a real difference in order to respond to the many challenges we are currently facing, starting with climate change, and contribute to meeting the goals on the 2030 Agenda”. Sustainalytics, one of the leading ESG rating agencies, has issued a Second Party Opinion certifying the Hera Group’s Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework’s consistency with the main international reference standards, first and foremost the International Capital Market Association’s 2020 Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles. In structuring its SLFF, the Group was supported by BNP Paribas, UniCredit and Mediobanca. Press Release Sustainable Linked Financing Framework.pdf 2020-07-02 09:54 Communication of the overall amount of voting rights
13/09/2021
Price sensitive
M&A

Herambiente acquires Vallortigara Group

2021-09-13 By acquiring this Veneto-based company, the Hera Group has further consolidated its leadership in the waste management sector. From this and two similar transactions completed in the first half of 2021 in the industrial waste treatment sector, a consolidated contribution to Hera’s Ebitda coming to 20 million euro is expected Sede Gruppo The Hera Group has further strengthened its national leadership in the waste management sector, more specifically in industrial waste treatment. The Group, through its subsidiary Herambiente, has in fact acquired 80% of the Vallortigara Group, which provides services to industries, public administrations and citizens and manages a multifunctional platform for special waste treatment in Torrebelvicino (Province of Vicenza in the North-Eastern part of Italy). The Torrebelvicino platform consists of three sections: a storage and selection plant for solid and liquid, hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste, a stabilisation and solidification plant for industrial sludge and a chemical-physical plant for liquid waste. Currently, this facility treats approximately 75,000 tonnes of waste per year and, thanks to the investments planned by Herambiente, it will be able to increase and streamline its activities, in line with the principles of the circular economy. The acquisition of the Vallortigara Group, which employs over 100 workers and has 4,000 customers,both in public and private sector, will enable the Hera Group to strengthen its presence in the Triveneto region. It will also expand its service to neighbouring territories, creating significant synergies with the Hera Group’s industrial centres in the provinces of Pisa and Ravenna, which have been operational for some time. The current owners (the Vallortigara family) will remain within the new corporate structure. Overall, through the company Hasi (Herambiente Servizi Industriali), Herambiente now has 18 multi-purpose sites dedicated to treating waste produced by businesses, with 1.3 million tonnes of industrial waste treated each year. Following the two transactions in the same field, industrial waste treatment, carried out in the first half of 2021 – the acquisition of 70% of the company Recycla in Friuli and 31% of the company SEA in the Marche region – Herambiente’s development plan thus continues, confirming its position as the country’s leading operator in the sector, able to provide across-the-board solutions in industrial waste treatment to an increasing number of new customers. In fact, all the acquisitions made by Herambiente also contribute to the objective of strengthening the geographical presence by increasing the penetration at local level, thus improving the efficiency and quality of services to local businesses and generating positive returns in the areas served, along with economic benefits for customers. “This new transaction is in line with the significant path of strategic development we are implementing in the industrial waste sector”, comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of Hera Group. “When fully operational, thanks to the three acquisitions made in 2021, we will treat more than 300,000 additional tonnes of industrial waste produced by 3,300 new industrial customers every year, with a contribution to the Hera Group’s Ebitda coming to roughly 20 million euro, in addition to the value of the synergies expected from the integrations.” Press releaase Vallortigara acquisition.pdf 2019-07-03 11:02:00 Sede Gruppo
09/09/2021
Price sensitive
Hera Spa
M&A

100% of Ascotrade goes to the Hera Group

2021-09-09 Through its subsidiary EstEnergy, the Group has acquired 11% of the share capital of Ascotrade, a gas and electricity sales company, from Bim Gsp, now controlling it entirely. This transaction is part of a rationalisation and consolidation process following the Ascopiave partnership Sede Gruppo The Hera Group continues to expand its presence in the energy sector, in the Triveneto area in particular. Through its subsidiary EstEnergy, indeed, it has purchased 11% of Ascotrade, a company operating in gas and electricity sales, from Bim Gestione Servizi Pubblici in Belluno, for 21 million euro, thus controlling 100% of the share capital. This transaction is part of the process of rationalisation and consolidation of the companies controlled by EstEnergy, already the foremost energy operator in North-Eastern Italy, following the partnership between the Hera Group and Ascopiave. With the acquisition of the entirety of Ascotrade’s shares, the Hera Group has further consolidated its leadership in the energy area, where it already has a total of approximately 3.4 million customers. Press release Ascotrade acquisition.pdf 2019-07-03 13:00:00 Sede Gruppo
Online since 09/09/2021 at 13:00
03/09/2021
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Communication of the overall amount of voting rights

(drafted pursuant to article 85-bis, paragraph 4-bis, of Consob Regulation 11971 / 14 May 1999)
04/08/2021
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Communication of the overall amount of voting rights

2021-08-04 (drafted pursuant to article 85-bis, paragraph 4-bis, of Consob Regulation 11971 / 14 May 1999) Communication of the overall amount of voting rights Bologna, 4 August 2021 - The following table contains the data concerning the shares outstanding and the number of voting rights representing the share capital as at 31 July 2021. Updated situation Previous situation Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Total of which: 1,489,538,745 2,230,926,254 1,489,538,745 2,231,003,848 Ordinary shares (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2021) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 Current coupon: n. 20 748,151,236 748,151,236 748,073,642 748,073,642 Ordinary shares with increased voting rights (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2021) - cod. ISIN IT0005159972 Current coupon: n. 20 741,387,509 1,482,775,018 741,465,103 1,482,930,206 Press release Communication overall amount of voting rights art. 85 bis.pdf 2019-07-03 10:56:00 Communication of the overall amount of voting rights
30/07/2021
Price sensitive
Hera Spa
Other press releases

The world’s first AWS-certified drinking water plant is located in Bologna and managed by Hera

2021-07-30 potabilizzatore_val_di_setta.jpg The certification process for the Val di Setta plant, located in Sasso Marconi and serving Bologna’s main aqueduct, has been successfully completed, confirming Hera’s ongoing commitment to managing and protecting water resources. Internationally, the Hera Group is the first utility to receive certification for a drinking water plant Potabilizzatore As of today, Hera’s Sasso Marconi (BO) drinking water plant, which also supplies Bologna, is certified by the AWS (Alliance for Water Stewardship), the leading international standard that encourages a responsible use of water resources and acts as the global benchmark in this area. The Hera Group is the first utility in the world to obtain this certification for a drinking water plant and the third largest in Italy. The AWS standard is designed to help companies and individuals implement responsible practices and protect this resource, improving their efficiency and addressing current and future water challenges such as drought, climate change and population growth. It is typically used in the manufacturing sector, adopted by major multinational companies, and is recommended by the United Nations. Obtaining this certification is a rigorous process that includes a range of actions, criteria and indicators on how to manage water, both within the plant and outside of it, across the board, submitting the industry’s best practices to a worldwide scientific committee. A clear path, with no observations, and important benefits in terms of efficiency and water resource protection In the case of the Val di Setta drinking water plant, the certification was completed without any nonconformities. The process is rarely so clear-cut, rewarding Hera’s commitment over the past year, the length of the entire process. The efficiency measures implemented in 2020 for managing the drinking water plant led to an overall improvement in the use of resources during the plant’s operations. For example, the filter washing phase was optimized thanks to a priorly conducted study, leading to an overall saving coming to roughly 2,400 cubic meters of water per day in water treatment and purification. The AWS also certifies the degree of efficiency, and the Val di Setta plant is outstanding in this regard: to introduce one litre of drinking water into the aqueduct, it takes 1.1 from the environment, compared to an average amount of 1.7 litres for 1 litre of bottled water. Increased good practices at the heart of the certification This certification is also centred around involving the local community in good practices. The Alliance for Water Stewardship is in fact a global organization created with the main goal of raising public awareness on issues related to water scarcity and the proper use of water. The certification must therefore also indicate that the party in question is committed to communicating the importance of water, promoting its efficient and responsible use in the local area and sharing good management practices with other local figures. The AWS thus aims at creating local and international networks of companies actively involved in managing water resources. 38 million cubic metres of water per year, for 34 municipalities Hera’s drinking water plant in Sasso Marconi takes water from the Reno river and the Setta stream, makes it drinkable and serves 34 municipalities in the Bologna area, including the capital, with a total of almost 800,000 inhabitants. 42% of the overall drinking water supplied in the province comes from here, with an average of 38 million cubic metres per year. The plant works on a continuous cycle and is fully automated and controlled 24 hours a day by the Hera Group’s remote control centre, so that the slightest change in the service is reported and it is possible to intervene in real time, even remotely. “The virtuous management of water for us is fundamental, and with this certification we wish to formalize our commitment even more strongly. This is why we chose the Val di Setta drinking water plant”, comments Susanna Zucchelli, Group’s Water Manager. “One of the most important plants, it supplies important institutional and industrial facilities, and can therefore contribute to forming the sort of local network that is highly desired by this standard and enables us to share actions and best practices. One example is the collaboration initiated some time ago with Philip Morris, which has a large plant in Valsamoggia, served by our water treatment plant.” Press release Hera has the world's first AWS certified drinking water plant.pdf 2019-07-03 11:25:00 Potabilizzatore
Online since 30/07/2021 at 11:25
28/07/2021
Price sensitive
Financial Results

Hera BoD approves results for 1H 2021

2021-07-28 The half-year report shows significant growth in operating and financial indicators, thanks to the contribution coming from the Group’s main businesses. The pursuit of sustainable development and financial solidity are confirmed as strong points, as further verified by the recent S&P ESG Evaluation and the net debt/Ebitda ratio, which further improved to 2.5x Sede Gruppo Financial highlights Revenues at 4,179.7 million euro (+22.8%) Ebitda at 617.9 million euro (+10.4%) Net profit for Shareholders at 216.1 million euro (+30.0%) Strong improvement in net financial debt, now at 2,956.7 million euro, with a further decrease in the net debt/Ebitda ratio, now at 2.5x Operating highlights Good contribution to growth comes from the Group’s main businesses, in particular the energy and waste areas Progression of results underpinned both by organic growth and M&A Solid customer base in energy sectors, coming to almost 3.4 million customers Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated operating results for the first half of 2021, which confirm the positive trend shown by the Group, with strong growth in the main operating and financial indicators, and financial solidity confirmed by the further improvement in the net debt/Ebitda ratio, now at 2.5x. Hera thus continues along its uninterrupted path of development, promoting growth led by sustainability and innovation and relying on a strategy that balances internal growth and M&As and combines regulated and free market activities. Among the main changes in the scope of consolidation, external growth occurred through a few transactions in the waste management sector, in particular the acquisition of 70% of Recycla, a Friuli-based company that manages three platforms for solid and liquid industrial waste and is headquartered in Maniago (PN), consolidated in the first half of 2021. In addition, 31% of SEA, a company operating in the Marche region with a solid facility for industrial waste, was acquired, and a further transaction will be closed in the same area within the summer. Furthermore, another acquisition will contribute to the results in second half: yesterday it was finalised the acquisition of the 90% of share capital of Ecogas, operating in Abruzzo, which will bring roughly 22,000 new customers and will lead the Group to consolidate its role as the third largest operator in that area, with roughly 90,000 customers. Revenues increase sharply, coming to roughly 4.2 billion euro In the first half of 2021, revenues amounted to 4,179.7 million, rising considerably by 777.4 million (+22.8%) compared to the 3,402.3 million seen in the same period of 2020, thanks to the contribution coming from all business areas. In particular, the waste management sector contributed to growth with an increase in waste treated and plastics sold, as did the energy areas. In this area, higher revenues came from trading, higher volumes of gas sold, the increased price of electricity and generation, as well as growth in the heat management business and value-added services. Ebitda rises to 617.9 million euro Ebitda amounted to 617.9 million, up by 58.2 million (+10.4%) over the 559.7 million seen at 30 June 2020. This growth was mainly driven by the energy area, due to higher sales and trading margins, and the waste management sector. Operating results and pre-tax profits increase Operating income rose to 343.6 million (+16.2%), compared to 295.7 million in the same period of 2020, partially due to improved financial operations, coming to 55.1 million. This result includes higher charges resulting from the sale of tax credits as part of ecobonus-related activities. Pre-tax profit rose to 288.5 million (+20.5%), up compared to the 239.5 million in the first half of 2020, for reasons including non-recurring items related to a tax exemptions, as described in further detail below. Net profits for Shareholders up, reaching 216.1 million euro Thanks to a tax rate coming to 26.7%, an improvement compared to the 27% seen in the first half of 2020, achieved thanks to the Group’s commitment investment in technological, digital and environmental transformation following Utility 4.0 trends, net profits at 30 June 2021 rose to 236.2 million (+35.1%), compared to 174.9 million in the first half of 2020. This increase is also linked to the value of special items, which contributed with 24.7 million, also due to the effects of the tax realignment concerning some goodwill recognised in the financial statements for 46.3 million. Also due to this factor, profit attributable to Group Shareholders increased sharply, coming to 216.1 million (+30.0%), as against the 166.2 million seen in the same period one year earlier. Strong increase in investments and improvement in net financial debt Net operating investments went from 195.1 million at 30 June 2020 to 237.4 million in the first half of 2021, up 21.7%, and were mainly related to works on plants, networks and infrastructures, in addition to investments for the large-scale meter replacement and the purification and sewage sector. Thanks to the positive contribution coming from operations, which allowed both higher investments and M&A transactions to be fully financed, net financial debt further improved, settling at 2,956.7 million at 30 June 2021, compared to 3,227.0 million at 31 December 2020. The Group’s financial solidity was also confirmed by the net debt/Ebitda ratio, which in the first half of 2021 dropped to 2.5x, a further improvement compared to 2.87x at the end of 2020 and 2.81x at 30 June 2020. Hera’s financial strength – also reflected in the ratings given by the main rating agencies, including Standard & Poor's recent upgrade to BBB+ with a stable outlook – goes hand in hand with the sustainable development strategy it has pursued since its establishment, along with its ability to manage risks and opportunities, as shown last week by S&P Global Rating’s ESG Evaluation. Gas Ebitda for the gas area – which includes services in natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and heat management – amounted to 244.1 million in the first half of 2021, a strong improvement (+21.6%) compared to the 200.8 million seen at 30 June 2020. This result was achieved mainly thanks to growth in both traditional and last resort markets. In particular, the Hera Group is increasingly consolidating its presence, with 8 portions awarded in the last resort gas service in 16 regions, 5 portions in the gas distribution default service in 12 regions and 9 portions of the Consip GAS13 tender in 12 regions. An increase in the energy services management business also contributed to growth, due to the greater activities linked to the insulation bonus and energy efficiency works for condominiums, district heating volumes and increased activities in Bulgaria. There was a slight increase in the customer base (+0.8% compared to the same period during the previous year), which totalled more than 2 million, to which the customers acquired from the Abruzzo company Ecogas will be added in the second half of the year. The gas area accounted for 39.5% of Group Ebitda. Water Ebitda for the integrated water cycle area – which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services – remained stable at 122.3 million at 30 June 2021, compared to 122.7 million in the first half of 2020. This result reflects higher operating costs on networks and plants, especially on electricity costs and on sludge disposal, compared to the previous year, partially offset by increased revenues from new connections and services for third parties. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 19.8% of Group Ebitda. Waste In the first half of 2021, Ebitda for the waste management area – which includes waste collection, treatment, recycling and disposal services – grew to 142.6 million, with a strong 16.5% increase compared to the 122.4 million seen at 30 June 2020, thanks in particular to growth in volumes treated, an increase in sales of recycled plastic products and higher revenues from electricity generation and biomethane production. The earliest positive impacts of the new acquisitions also appeared, especially from Recycla, which contributed 3.5 million to the results as of 1st January. Against a backdrop of recovery in the sector, the Group thus further confirmed and consolidated its leadership, partially due to partnerships in the industrial waste and environmental remediation and restoration sectors, which helped further expand its plant facilities, which now number around ninety, capable of handling all types of waste. Hera also continues to develop initiatives for an increasingly circular economy, from material recovery activities, thanks to the company Aliplast, which operates in plastic recycling and whose volumes are growing rapidly, to the production of renewable energy and biomethane, and Hera Business Solution, a “turnkey” multi-service proposal for large companies offering sustainable and integrated management of waste, water and energy. Further growth was seen in sorted waste collection, which stood at 65.8% at 30 June 2021, compared to 64.4% in the first half of 2020, thanks to the numerous projects introduced. The waste management area accounted for 23.1% of Group Ebitda. Electricity In the first half of 2021, Ebitda for the electricity area – which includes electricity generation, distribution and sales services – settled at 90.0 million, compared to the 97.0 million seen at 30 June 2020. Lower earnings in the safeguarded segment of the last resort market, due to a different scope of portions managed, and lower electricity generation activities were partially offset by the positive result of trading activities and strong commercial development, supported by innovative offers, value-added services and increasing investments to improve customer experience and customer segmentation based on different needs. Customers increased slightly (+1.4%), reaching over 1.3 million. The electricity area accounted for 14.6% of Group Ebitda. Statement by Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano Our half-year results reflect the good performance of the Group and encourage us to look towards the future with confidence, in line with our long-standing path of growth and our focus on creating value for our shareholders and the local areas in which we operate. In particular, respecting the strategic guidelines contained in our Business Plan to 2024, we are carrying out a series of transactions aimed at external growth, which will allow us to consolidate our leadership in Italy in waste treatment and further expand our plant platform, with cutting-edge facilities and circular economy solutions for companies. In this way, we will be able to continue to extend the scope of our activity, extracting synergies and guaranteeing increasing benefits for our customers, thanks to a more pervasive presence in the areas served. The acquisitions in the waste management area alone, once completed, will create an additional contribution to the Hera Group’s Ebitda coming to approximately 20 million euro, above and beyond the value of the synergies expected from these integrations. Statement by CEO Stefano Venier The results achieved in the first half of the year show a further reinforcement of our financial solidity, based on an excellent operating performance and effective management of working capital. This balanced and solid path allows us to effectively govern the changes underway, guaranteeing further expansion in investments and continuing to implement the development strategy outlined in our Business Plan, capable of combining growth and solutions supporting the transition, as further confirmed quite recently by S&P Global Rating’s ESG Evaluation. 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 Half-Year Financial Statement and related materials will be available to the public pursuant to the terms established by law at Company Headquarters, on the website www.gruppohera.it and on the authorised storage platform 1Info (www.1info.it ). Unaudited extracts from the Abbreviated Consolidated Half-Year Financial Statements at 30 June 2021 are attached. Profit & Loss (m€) 30/06/2021 Inc. % 30/06/2020 Inc. % Ch. Ch. % Sales 4,179.7 3,402.3 +777.4 +22.8% Other operating revenues 140.2 3.4% 222.6 6.5% (82.4) (37.0%) Raw material (2,128.5) (50.9%) (1,605.1) (47.2%) +523.4 +32.6% Services costs (1,260.1) (30.1%) (1,151.0) (33.8%) +109.1 +9.5% Other operating expenses (37.9) (0.9%) (32.5) (1.0%) +5.4 +16.6% Personnel costs (301.8) (7.2%) (290.9) (8.5%) +10.9 +3.7% Capitalisations 26.3 0.6% 14.3 0.4% +12.0 +84.0% Ebitda 617.9 14.8% 559.7 16.5% +58.2 +10.4% Depreciation and provisions (274.3) (6.6%) (264.0) (7.8%) +10.3 +3.9% Ebit 343.6 8.2% 295.7 8.7% +47.9 +16.2% Financial inc./(exp.) (55.1) (1.3%) (56.2) (1.7%) (1.1) (2.0%) Pre tax profit 288.5 6.9% 239.5 7.0% +49.0 +20.5% Taxes (77.0) (1.8%) (64.6) (1.9%) +12.4 +19.2% Net profit 211.5 5.1% 174.9 5.1% +36.6 +20.9% Special items 24.7 0.6% - 0.0% +24.7 +100.0% Net profit 236.2 5.7% 174.9 5.1% +61.3 +35.1% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 216.1 5.2% 166.2 4.9% +49.9 +30.0% Minority shareholders 20.1 0.5% 8.7 0.3% +11.4 +131.1% Balance Sheet (m€) 30/06/2021 Inc.% 31/12/2020 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Net fixed assets 7,097.6 113.4% 6,983.6 109.4% +114.0 +1.6% Working capital (176.8) (2.8%) 53.6 0.8% (230.4) (429.9%) (Provisions) (663.4) (10.6%) (654.9) (10.2%) (8.5) +1.3% Net invested capital 6,257.4 100.0% 6,382.3 100.0% (124.9) (2.0%) Net equity 3,300.7 52.7% 3,155.3 49.4% +145.4 +4.6% Long term net financial debt 3,460.6 55.3% 3,617.1 56.7% (156.5) (4.3%) Short term net financial debt (503.9) (8.0%) (390.1) (6.1%) (113.8) +29.2% Net financial debts 2,956.7 47.3% 3,227.0 50.6% (270.3) (8.4%) Net invested capital 6,257.4 100.0% 6,382.3 100.0% (124.9) (2.0%) Press release 1H2021.pdf 2019-07-03 13:00:00 Sede Gruppo
21/07/2021
Price sensitive
Other press releases

Hera among the best utilities in the S&P Global Ratings ESG evaluations

2021-07-21 The Hera Group ranks 5th internationally among the Utility Networks assessed by this rating agency’s Sustainable Finance analysts, thanks to its focus on sustainability, which has characterised the Group since its establishment, and its ability to manage risks and opportunities https://eng.gruppohera.it/group_eng/investor-relations/hera-stock Hera stock After being included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, World and Europe, in 2020, the Hera Group has once again confirmed its standing as one of the companies most attentive to sustainability and ESG aspects internationally. Hera’s ESG Evaluation, carried out by the Sustainable Finance analysts of S&P Global Ratings, was indeed published today. This is a cross-industry assessment of a company’s ability to effectively manage, over the medium and long term, its exposure to environmental, social and governance risks, as well as to seize opportunities arising from the changes occurring in a constantly evolving international context. The Hera Group is the first company in Italy to publish its ESG Evaluation, in which it obtained an overall score of 81/100, making it one of the top fifteen companies assessed internationally by S&P Global Ratings. The score obtained (81) places it well above the international (68) and European (73) average and ranks Hera fifth internationally among Utility Networks (with the sector average coming to 74). This is a further important recognition of the attention that the Hera Group pays to ESG aspects in pursuing its strategy of sustainable, long-term growth, which has characterised it since it was established in 2002, which complements and goes hand in hand with its financial solidity, confirmed by its recent rating upgrade. In particular, in the ESG Evaluation, the Hera Group is assessed by S&P Global Ratings as being strongly prepared to implement its growth and development strategy, ready to face the potential risks deriving from regulations in an economy that is moving towards the circular model, with low emissions, supporting the resilience of its well-diversified business model. Among the Group’s most distinctive factors, the following were positively evaluated: a robust governance, characterised by a high level of independence and transparency; a proven ability to anticipate change and a solid track record in setting and achieving targets; an ability to capitalise on the principles of the circular economy by investing in technology and innovation, with results exceeding its peers; a long-term growth strategy anchored to sustainability principles (by creating shared value, in line with the goals on the UN 2030 Agenda); a good level of diversity, thanks to a high percentage of women in managerial positions, and the inclusive approach to local communities, through their constant engagement thanks to targeted initiatives. Press release ESG Evaluation.pdf 2019-07-03 11:21:00 Nuova_Palazzina_1_110x150_s1.jpg
07/07/2021
Other press releases
Price sensitive

Hera and INALCA (Cremonini Group) together to produce biomethane

2021-07-07 The two companies have partnered to form a NewCo for transforming organic waste and agro-food wastewater into 100% renewable methane and compost, using a plant equipped with the most efficient technologies and in line with circular economy principles. A 28 million Euro investment has been allocated. Hera and INALCA (Cremonini Group) together to produce biomethane Hera Group's subsidiary Herambiente, the national leader in the waste management sector, and the company INALCA (Cremonini Group), leader in meat production and food distribution, signed a partnership agreement to set up the NewCo BIORG for the production of biomethane, a 100% renewable fuel, and compost from the sorted-waste collection of organic and food waste. Through an investment of approximately 28 million Euro, a site owned by Herambiente in Spilamberto, in the Modena area, will be renovated using the best available technologies. The biomethane production plant will be operational by 2022. After the pioneering experience in Sant’Agata Bolognese (BO) launched in 2018, the Hera Group is thus continuing to develop its biomethane supply chain, with the aim of producing more than 15.5 million cubic metres per year by 2024, more than doubling the current volume. The partnership will generate significant environmental benefits, including for the local area In particular, in line with the Group’s emphasis on all aspects of environmental sustainability, the Spilamberto plant will not require using new land. The natural gas will be generated by the anaerobic digestion of organic waste from the Hera Group's sorted waste collection and waste from the processing of the agro-food industry, including the meat production cycle of INALCA, a company controlled by the Cremonini Group. When fully operational, production is expected to be 3.7 million cubic metres of biomethane per year, which will be injected into the gas network and returned to the local area for automotive use. The resulting environmental benefits are significant: each year approximately 3,000 TOE (tons of oil equivalent) of fossil fuel will be saved and approximately 7,000 tons of atmospheric CO2 emissions will be avoid. The operation will also enable the recovery of materials as well as energy. Instead of being disposed of, the waste resulting from the anaerobic digestion process, technically called solid digestate, will be further recovered, transferring it to the composting plant in Nonantola (MO) - currently owned by the Cremonini Group and to be transferred to BIORG - to produce approximately 18,000 tons of compost per year, which may be used as a biofertiliser in agriculture. Thanks to this NewCo, therefore, the Group will be able to make tangible contributions to the local-area circular economy in keeping with the guidelines of the recent PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) which promotes and supports the construction of new facilities for the production of biofuels. “The Hera Group has always been at the forefront in promoting environmental sustainability and the circular economy: all our projects go in this direction, while at the same time fostering innovation and the growth both of the company and the areas in which we operate” - states Andrea Ramonda, CEO of Herambiente. “Regarding the development of the biomethane chain in particular, our agreement with a first-class partner such as INALCA represents a further step forward for us after having established the first plant ever built in Italy by a multi-utility to produce biomethane on an industrial scale, the one in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Thanks to the know-how gained through this facility, we are always aiming at new initiatives for a circular economy transition, in line with our Strategic Plan up to 2024”. “This agreement consolidates and strengthens INALCA’s integrated and sustainable production model," the company’s CEO Luigi Scordamaglia explained. “In fact, the new plant allows the processing waste from our production activities to be fully exploited, confirming INALCA’s ‘zero waste’ commitment. In addition, an effective industrial synergy is achieved, with the production of biomethane and composting in two perfectly complementary plants. For this reason, this agreement with a company with know-how and state-of-the-art technologies such as Hera proves that only true innovation can generate the competitive sustainability that reduces impact on the environment while at the same time generating higher added value for the entire livestock sector”. The Hera Group is one of the largest Italian multi-utilities and operates in the waste-management, energy and water sectors, with over 9,000 employees who are committed every day to meeting the multiple needs of approximately 5 million citizens located mainly in Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Marche, Tuscany and Abruzzo. Listed since 2003, it joined the FTSE MIB on 18 March 2019 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, World and Europe, on 23 November 2020. Its subsidiary Herambiente is the leading national operator in the waste management sector, with approximately 90 state-of-the-art plants that treat all types of waste. For additional information: https://eng.gruppohera.it; http://ha.gruppohera.it/?lang=2 INALCA S.p.A. is a Cremonini Group's company, European leader in the production of beef and processed meat products, cured meats, bacon and snacks (with the brands Inalca, Montana, Manzotin, Italia Alimentari, Fiorani and Ibis), and in the international distribution of top-quality food products (Inalca Food & Beverage). The company, which controls the entire production chain from breeding to distribution and is jointly controlled by the Italian state through Cdp Equity (Cassa Depositi & Prestiti Group), recorded revenues of EUR 2,121.5 million € in 2020, 30% of which from exports. Its industrial structure consists of 21 production plants (16 of which are in Italy and 5 abroad) and 26 logistical distribution platforms. It includes 9 farms (7 of which are in Italy and 2 abroad) and more than 100 breeding farms, for a total of 180,000 animals raised annually. Press release Hera and INALCA.pdf 2019-07-03 12:52:00 Hera and INALCA (Cremonini Group) together to produce biomethane
05/07/2021
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Communication of the overall amount of voting rights

2021-07-05 (drafted pursuant to article 85-bis, paragraph 4-bis, of Consob Regulation 11971 / 14 May 1999) Communication of the overall amount of voting rights Bologna, 5 July 2021 - The following table contains the data concerning the shares outstanding and the number of voting rights representing the share capital as at 30 June 2021. Updated situation Previous situation Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Total of which: 1,489,538,745 2,231,003,848 1,489,538,745 2,243,043,785 Ordinary shares (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2020) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 Current coupon: n. 19 748,073,642 748,073,642 736,033,705 736,033,705 Ordinary shares with increased voting rights (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2020) - cod. ISIN IT0005159972 Current coupon: n. 19 741,465,103 1,482,930,206 753,505,040 1,507,010,080 Press release Communication of the overall amount of voting rights art.85 bis.pdf 2019-07-03 09:31:00 Communication of the overall amount of voting rights
30/06/2021
M&A
Price sensitive

Herambiente acquires the company Recycla

2021-06-30 The Hera Group has consolidated its leadership in industrial waste treatment and extended its scope of operations in northern Italy thanks to the acquisition of this Friuli-based company. Including the two further transactions to be completed within the summer, the final consolidated contribution to Hera's Ebitda is estimated at approximately 20 million euro. Hera The Hera Group, through its subsidiary Herambiente, Italy’s leading operator in waste treatment and recovery, has acquired 70% of Recycla, a Friuli-based company that manages three platforms for solid and liquid industrial waste, whose central offices are in Maniago (PN). This transaction will confirm Herambiente’s position as a key operator in the sector and allow it to offer its across-the-board waste treatment solutions to new customers. Through its company Hasi (Herambiente Servizi Industriali), Italy’s largest industrial waste management company, Herambiente has thus consolidated and expanded its facilities serving businesses, with 15 multifunctional sites dedicated to the treatment of waste produced by companies and 1.2 million tonnes of industrial waste treated each year. Important synergies are expected with its industrial centres in Pisa Province and at Ravenna, which have already been operational for some time. More specifically, the Maniago platform for solid and liquid industrial waste handles over 40,000 tonnes per year of waste produced by companies. In line with the principles of the circular economy, this waste is pre-treated to optimise its characteristics and is mainly destined for energy recovery or chemical-physical treatment. Therefore, only 3% of the waste entering the platform is disposed of in landfills. This transaction, which follows the acquisitions completed in recent years (from Waste Recycling, Teseco and Pistoia Ambiente in Tuscany and Geo Nova and Aliplast in Treviso), is a new step in Herambiente’s continuous growth in the industrial waste treatment sector. This development will be further strengthened by two agreements already signed with companies operating in the Marche and Veneto regions in the same industrial sector, which will be finalised within the summer. When fully operational, thanks to these three transactions, an additional 350,000 tonnes of industrial waste produced by 3,300 new customers will be treated each year, and the contribution to the Hera Group’s Ebitda will come to approximately 20 million euro when the transactions are finalised. The strategic priority of Herambiente, which can count on a total of roughly 90 certified, state-of-the-art plants that combine efficiency, cost competitiveness and sustainability, is to offer companies waste treatment solutions in line with the circular economy. The new acquisitions, therefore, respect this strategic orientation and will guarantee positive returns in the areas served and economic benefits for customers. Lastly, all these transactions share a rationale that is part of Herambiente Servizi Industriali’s DNA: remaining close to its customers. Integrating these new platforms with the current set of plants will increase the wide availability of solutions in areas served for years by Herambiente, improving the efficiency and quality of services for local businesses. “With this acquisition, we continue to pursue our significant strategic development in the industrial waste sector, guaranteeing service continuity and competitiveness for companies,” comments Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. “In the upcoming months, we will close transactions with two further important companies operating in this sector. Taken as a whole, these three transactions will involve a total investment of 122 million euro and will add 200 qualified resources to our Group”. Press release Recycla.pdf 2019-07-03 12:55:00 Press release Hera
16/06/2021
Other press releases
Hera Spa
Price sensitive

Hera at the top of the 2021 Integrated Governance Index

2021-06-16 The Hera Group leads the overall ranking in this index, which measures the extent to which sustainability is integrated within corporate strategies. Hera is also at the top of the finance category, for the fourth consecutive year, and second in the special ESG Identity survey IGI 2021 Hera ranks first among Italian companies for its full and conscious integration of sustainability policies within its business strategies. This has been confirmed by the 2021 Integrated Governance Index, presented today at the ESG Business Conference, an authoritative model for analysing ESG factors, i.e. the social, environmental and governance aspects of business activities. In addition to leading the overall ranking, Hera also stands out in two other dedicated rankings. For the fourth year in a row, the Group is at the top of the sustainable finance category, which analyses the links between a company and responsible investors. It also ranked second in the special 2021 ESG Identity survey, which focuses on a company’s ability to enhance its sustainable identity, through means including stakeholder involvement, first and foremost customers and suppliers. “This recognition”, remarks Hera Group Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, “certifies once again the validity of the direction pursued since our establishment. Sustainability is in fact fully integrated within our activities, across the board, and represents a strategic asset in all respects. As is stated in our Articles of Association, Hera’s growth is accompanied by the generation of shared value for the communities and local areas served, which in turn are priority elements for defining financial and investment policies.” Sustainability at the heart of the Group’s strategies For the Hera Group, uninterrupted growth in operating results goes hand in hand with increasing attention to sustainability. In 2016, Hera introduced shared value reporting, referring to those business activities which, in addition to generating margins, respond to the drivers for sustainable growth defined by the UN 2030 Agenda and, more generally, various national and international policies. In 2020, shared value Ebitda rose to 420.0 million euro (+7.2%), equivalent to 37.4% of total Ebitda. This is in line with the path set out by the Business Plan, which projects this value at 50% of total Ebitda by 2024. Hera gave further evidence of the central role played by creating shared value when it introduced the concept of Purpose in its Articles of Association, among the first companies in Italy to do so. Last April, the Shareholders Meeting approved a paragraph explaining the Group’s corporate purpose, i.e. the objectives it aims to achieve in carrying out its business activities, thus reaffirming its commitment to sustainability. The Articles thus updated – in line with Borsa Italiana’s new Corporate Governance Code and best practices at European level – allow the Group to further strengthen its commitment to the energy transition and the circular economy. Lastly, as regards sustainable finance, in line with the growing interest shown by investors towards ESG factors, Hera has proven able to act swiftly, adopting innovative models that have led it to play a pioneering role in the sector. It was in fact the first company in Italy to launch a green bond, in 2014, followed by a second issue in 2019. Three years ago, the first sustainable revolving credit line was launched, introducing bonuses linked to achieving specific environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals. These include, for example, additionally reducing the carbon footprint in energy production, reaching new energy efficiency targets and improving sorted waste collection. The Integrated Governance Index The Integrated Governance Index is the only model for quantitatively analysing degree to which ESG factors are integrated into corporate strategies. Developed by ETicaNews, with the academic and legal support of specialised associations and advisors, it is now in its sixth edition. This index is increasingly used as an indicator of a company’s ESG identity. This year, IGI invited Italy’s top 100 listed companies, companies that publish a non-financial statement, and the top 50 non-listed companies to participate, thus reaching the highest number to date of companies analysed. The index now covers 60% of the companies listed on the FTSE Mib and 50% of Italy’s top 100 listed companies. Press release IGI 2021.pdf 2019-07-03 10:41:00 Press release IGI 2021
Online since 16/06/2021 at 10:41
04/06/2021
Shareholders’ meeting
Price sensitive

Communication of the overall amount of voting rights

2021-06-04 (drafted pursuant to article 85-bis, paragraph 4-bis, of Consob Regulation 11971 / 14 May 1999) Communication of the overall amount of voting rights Bologna, 4 June 2021 - The following table contains the data concerning the shares outstanding and the number of voting rights representing the share capital at 31 May 2021. Updated situation Previous situation Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Number of shares constituting the Share capital Number of voting rights Total of which: 1,489,538,745 2,243,043,785 1,489,538,745 2,243,088,785 Ordinary shares (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2020) - cod. ISIN IT0001250932 Current coupon: n. 19 736,033,705 736,033,705 735,988,705 735,988,705 Ordinary shares with increased voting rights (regular dividend rights: 01.01.2020) - cod. ISIN IT0005159972 Current coupon: n. 19 753,505,040 1,507,010,080 753,550,040 1,507,100,080 Press release Communication overall amount of voting rights art.85bis.pdf 2019-07-03 09:38:00 Comunicazione dell'ammontare complessivo dei diritti di voto
Press releases and notices
12/05/2021
Price sensitive
Hera Spa
Financial Results

Hera BoD approves 1Q 2021 results

2021-05-12 The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March shows further improvement in all main operating and financial indicators, with financial solidity confirmed as a strong point, as has also been recently highlighted by the upgraded rating given by S&P’s, now BBB+ with a stable outlook. Hera continues, furthermore, to create value for the areas served, promoting sustainability and innovation as strategic drivers for growth Sede Hera Financial highlights Revenues at 2,271.8 million euro (+10.5%) Ebitda at 362.0 million euro (+3.7%) Net profit for Shareholders at 132.2 million euro (+6.3%) Net financial debt shows strong improvement, now at 3,077.6 million euro, and net debt/Ebitda ratio falls to 2.71x Operating highlights Good contribution to growth coming from the Group’s main businesses, the energy sectors and waste management in particular Solid energy customer base, now reaching almost 3.4 million Further development in initiatives for the circular economy, with aspects including state of the art plants and increasingly green services for companies and citizens Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated results for the first quarter of 2021, with all main operating and financial indicators improving, compared to the same period in the previous year, thanks to the Group’s solid, efficient and sustainable multi-business strategy and a good operating, financial and fiscal management. The energy sectors and the waste management area made a particularly important contribution. Also note the additional improvement in financial solidity, with a strong reduction in net financial debt. The results achieved confirm, once again, the validity of the Group’s business model, which balances regulated and free market activities, and combines an increasingly efficient management of services with a search for new external development opportunities. At the same time, sustainability and innovation are promoted as strategic growth drivers, in line with European policies and the objectives of the UN Agenda, creating value for shareholders and for the communities served. At 31 March 2021, the number of energy customers reached almost 3.4 million, thanks to factors including marketing initiatives and reinforced value-added services, from “green” offers to the sale and installation of LED devices, smart boilers and thermostats, as well as energy diagnoses, contracts for energy services, systems and targeted upgrading projects. The acquisition in September 2020 of the company Wölmann, which operates in the photovoltaic panel installation sector, is also part of this context and represents the main change in scope of operations compared to the first quarter of the previous year. Revenues reach approximately 2.3 billion (+10.5%) In the first quarter of 2021, revenues amounted to 2,271.8 million, up 10.5% compared to the 2,055.8 million seen in the same period of 2020. This result was sustained in particular by the energy sectors, with higher revenues from trading, higher volumes of gas sold and an increase in the price of electricity, in addition to the heat management business and activities involving value-added services for customers. Revenues from district heating and regulated network services also increased, as did those from the waste management area, thanks to energy production and a higher amount of waste treated. Ebitda rises to 362.0 million (+3.7%) Ebitda rose from 349.2 million in the first quarter of 2020 to 362.0 million at 31 March 2021, showing a 12.8 million (+3.7%) increase. This growth is due in particular to the performance achieved in the energy areas, which grew by 12.3 million overall, mainly due to higher sales margins and trading. Positive contributions also came from the waste management area and other services, while the water cycle saw a slight fall. Operating result and pre-tax profit increase Ebit rose, amounting to 223.1 million at 31 March 2021, up from 211.7 million in the same period of 2020 (+5.4%). Financial operations were largely unchanged, at 28.8 million, with an increase in charges for tax credit sales as part of ecobonus-related activities, offset by higher income for late payment indemnities on credits in the “last resort” markets. Pre-tax profit rose to 194.3 million (+6.2%). Net profit for shareholders grows to 132.2 million (+6.3%) Thanks to an improved tax rate, coming to 27.8% compared to 28.8% in the first quarter of 2020, driven by the Group’s commitment to making investments in technological, digital and environmental transformation with an eye to Utility 4.0, net profit at 31 March 2021 reached 140.3 million, up 7.7% compared to the 130.3 million seen in the same period of 2020. Profit pertaining to Group shareholders also rose to 132.2 million, up 6.3% compared to the 124.4 million seen in the same period of 2020. Operating investments rise and net financial debt improves significantly Net operating investments were up significantly, from 91.5 million at 31 March 2020 to 112.6 million (+23.1%) in the first quarter of 2021, and were mainly related to work on plants, networks and infrastructures, with investments in gas distribution concerning the large-scale meter replacement, and in the purification and sewerage area. Thanks in particular to the positive contribution coming from operational management during the quarter, a strong improvement was also seen in net financial debt, which stood at 3,077.6 million, compared to 3,227.0 million at 31 December 2020, down by approximately 150 million. Thanks to the double leverage provided by increased Ebitda and decreased net financial debt, the net debt/Ebitda ratio further improved to 2.71x, both compared to the same quarter last year (2.93x) and to the figure seen at the end of 2020 (2.87x). This data once again confirms the Group’s financial solidity, which also appears in the opinions released by major rating agencies, in particular the recent upgrade by Standard & Poor’s to BBB+ with a stable outlook. Gas Ebitda for the gas area – which includes natural gas distribution and sales services, district heating and heat management – amounted to 178.5 million in the first quarter of 2021, a sharp increase compared to the 160.9 million seen at 31 March 2020 (+11.0%). This result is linked in particular to a sharp rise in volumes sold (+38.1%), thanks to a good performance on traditional markets and new portions awarded in tenders: 8 portions of the last resort gas service in 16 regions of Italy, 5 portions of the default gas distribution service in 12 regions and 9 portions of the Consip GAS13 tender in 12 regions. Furthermore, the district heating area and the heat management business also contributed to this result, due to the increased activities linked to insulation incentives and energy efficiency works. Gas customers reached almost 2.1 million. The gas area accounted for 49.3% of Group Ebitda. Water Ebitda for the integrated water cycle area – which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services – went from 57.2 million in the first three months of 2020 to 55.0 million in the first quarter of 2021, a slight decrease mainly due to higher operating costs and network and plant management. These results were partially offset by higher revenues for new connections and by the bonuses for high service standards recognised by the Authority, based on investments made with a view to increasing efficiency and measures aimed at promoting and enhancing sustainability and resilience. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 15.2% of Group Ebitda. Waste Ebitda for the waste management area – which includes waste collection, treatment and disposal services – rose to 70.8 million at 31 March 2021 (+0.9%), compared to 70.2 million in the first quarter of 2020. This growth was mainly driven by the increased volumes treated and higher margins in plastics recovery, as well as higher revenues from electricity generation. Hera confirmed its position as Italy’s leader in the waste management sector, for reasons including its set of 90 advanced facilities for waste treatment, recycling and regeneration, matching European best practices within a national context characterised by a persistent lack of plants. Within a scenario showing recovery in the prices of virgin raw materials and a growing demand for recycled products, Hera also continues to develop initiatives for an increasingly circular economy, thanks to Aliplast’s outstanding capacities in plastic recycling and an increasing production of renewable energy, an area in which the Sant’Agata Bolognese (Bologna) plant for biomethane production from organic waste is a leading example. Consolidated skills in the waste management area are also an important competitive lever that the Group makes available to its customers, first and foremost companies with the Hera Business Solution, a “turnkey” multi-service offer for sustainable and integrated management of waste, water and energy. Results for sorted waste collection were also up, rising to 66.3% at 31 March 2021, compared to 65.4% during the first quarter of 2020, thanks to the many projects implemented in all geographical areas served. The waste management area accounted for 19.6% of Group Ebitda. Electricity Ebitda for the electricity area – which includes electricity generation, distribution and sales services – went from 52.5 million at 31 March 2020 to 47.2 million in the first quarter of 2021, mainly due to the fall in generation due to the changed market conditions in the dispatching service compared with the same period in the previous year, in addition to lower margins in the safeguarded market due to the different scope of the portions managed. These effects were partly offset by the contributions from trading and commercial expansion on traditional markets, supported by innovative offers, value-added services and increased investments to further improve customer experience and customer segmentation based on different needs. Thanks to these activities, the customer base also continued to grow in the electricity area, now reaching over 1.3 million, despite the fall in the number of safeguarded and protected customers. The electricity area accounted for 13.0% 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 report on operations in the first quarter and related materials are available to the public at Company Headquarters and on the website www.gruppohera.it. Unaudited extracts from the intermediate report on operations at 31 March 2021 are attached. Profit & Loss (m€) 31/03/2021 Inc. % 31/03/2020 Inc. % Ch. Ch. % Sales 2,271.8 2,055.8 +216.0 +10.5% Other operating revenues 100.7 4.4% 109.0 5.3% (8.3) (7.6%) Raw material (1,209.7) (53.2%) (1,035.4) (50.4%) +174.3 +16.8% Services costs (646.9) (28.5%) (627.2) (30.5%) +19.7 +3.1% Other operating expenses (17.1) (0.8%) (12.5) (0.6%) +4.6 +36.8% Personnel costs (150.1) (6.6%) (147.3) (7.2%) +2.8 +1.9% Capitalisations 13.3 0.6% 6.8 0.3% +6.5 +94.9% Ebitda 362.0 15.9% 349.2 17.0% +12.8 +3.7% Depreciation and provisions (138.9) (6.1%) (137.5) (6.7%) +1.4 +1.0% Ebit 223.1 9.8% 211.7 10.3% +11.4 +5.4% Financial inc./(exp.) (28.8) (1.3%) (28.7) (1.4%) +0.1 +0.3% Pre tax profit 194.3 8.6% 183.0 8.9% +11.3 +6.2% Taxes (54.0) (2.4%) (52.7) (2.6%) +1.3 +2.5% Net profit 140.3 6.2% 130.3 6.3% +10.0 +7.7% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 132.2 5.8% 124.4 6.0% +7.8 +6.3% Minority shareholders 8.1 0.4% 5.9 0.3% +2.2 +37.2% Balance Sheet (m€) 31/03/2021 Inc.% 31/12/2020 Inc.% Ch. Ch. % Net fixed assets 6,993.3 109.6% 6,983.6 109.4% +9.7 +0.1% Working capital 44.6 0.7% 53.6 0.8% (9.0) (16.8%) (Provisions) (657.5) (10.3%) (654.9) (10.2%) (2.6) +0.4% Net invested capital 6,380.4 100.0% 6,382.3 100.0% (1.9) (0.0%) Net equity 3,302.8 51.8% 3,155.3 49.4% +147.5 +4.7% Long term net financial debt 3,576.5 56.0% 3,617.1 56.7% (40.6) (1.1%) Short term net financial debt (498.9) (7.8%) (390.1) (6.1%) (108.8) +27.9% Net financial debts 3,077.6 48.2% 3,227.0 50.6% (149.4) (4.6%) Net invested capital 6,380.4 100.0% 6,382.3 100.0% (1.9) (0.0%) sede Hera Press release 1Q2021.pdf 2019-11-11 14:02 sede Hera Sede Hera
Online since 12/05/2021

Pre-Footer Standard

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