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

The Italian multiutility company signed an agreement with Salesforce aimed to ensure benefits not only to Herambiente's customers, thanks to new tools for relations with the company, but also to local area and communities, providing dedicated solutions to improve communications with public administrations. Positive effects expected also for the environment The message from overseas arrives loud and clear: focusing on innovation and digitalisation means meeting customers' needs. This is evidenced by the new agreement signed by Hera Group and Salesforce, the global leader in CRM. Herambiente, national leader and European benchmark in the waste treatment industry, selects Salesforce Sales Cloud to support its sales force with advanced sales applications, customer support, marketing and community management support, and other important management tools based on artificial intelligence and data analytics. The agreement just signed, in particular, aims to accompany the development and reinforcement of a big industrial reality such as Herambiente, providing increasingly innovative tools to better manage the relationship with its customers, who can rely on integrated services for taking on every type of waste. Herambiente treats 6.3 million tons of waste every year and nowadays is facing a growth path that new CRM applications can direct towards further efficiency and functionality objectives, by optimizing and harmonizing the processes of its various companies. Moreover, the agreement includes other innovative tools that will allow Area Managers of Hera Group to manage relations with public administrations in a more flexible and collaborative way, in the interest of local communities and in line with the orientation of the Italian multiutility, historically oriented to team up with local territories. Hera Group and Salesforce also agree on a common business concept, oriented for both companies to creating shared value. The two companies are committed to promoting renewable energy use: Hera electricity consumption is 100% offset by renewable sources which are equally used by Salesforce for two of its office buildings at global headquarters in San Francisco. All this means lower carbon emissions in support of the fight against climate change, a cause which both companies are particularly active and involved. Both Hera Group and Salesforce are members of CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, non-profit organization that offers companies, countries, regions and cities, a system to measure, detect, manage and share information on their environmental impact at global level, with the aim of encouraging all parties to undertake sustainable development. hera_salesforce_870.1536059515.png hera-salesforce_870 Read more 20180904_press_release.1536059516.pdf hera-salesforce_110 hera-salesforce_110 2018-09-04

The consolidated half-year report at 30 June confirms growth in operating and financial indicators, in line with the first quarter, with a positive contribution coming from business areas, gas and waste management in particular. Thanks to the efficiencies achieved, ROE reaches 10%. Financial highlights Revenues at € 2,996.7 million (+7.7%) Ebitda at € 523.6 million (+3.5%) Ebit at € 273.6 million (+4.3%) Net profits for Shareholders at € 158.1 million (+12.1%) Net debt at € 2,625.0 million Operating highlights Good contribution to growth coming from gas and waste management, respectively due to volumes sold and positive trends in market prices Management characterised by the results of internal growth Solid customer base in energy sectors (roughly 2.5 million), up by 110,000 over 1H2017 Sorted waste increases to anaverage of 60% across all areas served Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the financial results for the first half-year, which confirm the ongoing positive trend and show all main indicators rising. These results once again reward the Group’s balanced and agile way of operating, following a business model that has always combined the strategic levers of internal growth and external development. In addition to remarkable internal growth, partially deriving from higher efficiencies, developments in market shares and positive trends in tariffs and prices benefitted the accounts for the first half of 2018. Revenues amount to almost € 3 billion In the first half of 2018, revenues reached € 2,966.7 million, up € 212.7 million (+7.7%) over the € 2,754.0 million seen in the same period of 2017. The factors most responsible for this result include a higher amount of trading along with increased revenues from gas and electricity sales and waste management. Ebitda rises to € 523.6 million Ebitda settled at € 523.6 million, showing growth amounting to € 17.7 million (+3.5%) over June 2017. This increase is due to the good performances seen in all the Group’s main activities, and the gas area in particular thanks to higher volumes sold and income for sales and trading. Positive results also came from waste management and the integrated water cycle. Financial management among the factors responsible for an 8.4% increase in pre-tax profits Ebit rose to € 273.6 million, up 4.3% over the € 262.2 seen in the same period of 2017. Financial management also improved, settling at € 39.2 million, € 6.7 million less than the same period in 2017, a performance made possible by efficiency in rates and higher financial income for commercial activities. In light of this situation, pre-tax profits increased by 8.4%, going from € 216.3 million at 30 June 2017 to € 234.4 million at the same date in 2018. Sharp increase in net profits for Shareholders, reaching € 158.1 million (+12.1%) Profits pertaining to Group Shareholders at 30 June 2018 rose to € 158.1 million, +12.1% compared to the € 141.0 million seen in the first half of 2017. The elements underlying this result include an improvement in the tax rate, which went from 31.6% to 30.1%, thanks to the Group’s continuous commitment to grasping the tax opportunities offered by large and very large amortisations related to major investments made in introducing Utility 4.0, in addition to tax credits for research and development and the final balance on previously acquired benefits, as well as € 4.8 million in capital gains from divestments. Approximately € 184 million in investments, financial position essentially stable The Group’s operating investments for the first six months of 2018, including capital grants, amounted to € 183.8 million, up € 13.7 million (+8.1%) over June 2017. Operating investments mainly involved interventions on plants, networks and infrastructures, as well as regulatory upgrading involving gas distribution above all, with a large-scale metre substitution, and the purification and sewerage areas. Net debt came to € 2,625.0 million at 30 June 2018, with a slight increase over the € 2,523.0 million seen at 31 December 2017 but essentially stable compared to the € 2,611.7 million witnessed in the first half of 2017, in spite of the higher amount of dividends paid (9.5 cents/share, instead of the 9 cents paid one year earlier). Net debt/Ebitda, an indicator of financial solidity, improved from 2.74 in the first half of 2017 to 2.62 at 30 June 2018. Gas Ebitda for the gas area, which includes services in natural gas distribution and sales, district heating and heat management, reached € 188.4 million in the first half of 2018, up compared to the € 171.8 million seen at 30 June 2017 (+9.6%), thanks to higher volumes of gas sold, an increase in trading and higher income from distribution services. The number of gas customers, which came to roughly 1.41 million, rose by 1.9% compared to the same period in 2017; this growth was brought about by expanding market shares and the entry of Blu Ranton and Verducci Servizi within the Group’s scope of operations. The gas area accounted for 36.0% of Group Ebitda. Water cycle Ebitda for the integrated water cycle area, which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services, went from € 111.3 million in the first half of 2017 to € 112.8 million at 30 June 2018, up 1.3%, thanks to higher revenues from dispensing and higher recognised costs. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 21.5% of Group Ebitda. Waste management In the first half of the year, Ebitda for the waste management area, which includes waste collection, treatment and disposal services, reached € 125.9 million (+3.8%), rising over the € 121.3 million seen at 30 June 2017. Initiatives aimed at recovering materials and improving energy efficiency contributed to this positive trend, in particular the full operation of Aliplast, as well as further development of an accurately focused marketing plan intended to broaden the customer portfolio and a continuous presence in the tender market. Moreover, the positive trend seen in prices for special waste treatment continued during this half-year, with double-digit growth rate. Further increases were also witnessed in sorted waste, which went from 58% in the first half of 2017 to 60% at 30 June 2018, thanks to the numerous services offered. The waste management area accounted for 24% of Group Ebitda. Electricity Ebitda for the electricity area, which includes services in electricity production, distribution and sales, went from € 91.6 million in the first half of 2017 to € 84.0 million at 30 June 2018, owing to the temporary closure of a few plants for planned maintenance. This area recorded additional growth in total customers, which increased by 82.8 thousand (+8.9%) compared to the first half of 2017, reaching 1.01 million customers, and also saw a 22.1% rise in volumes sold on both the free and safeguarded markets. This noteworthy result owes much to the Group’s continuous reinforcement of marketing actions and a broadening of its customer base. The electricity area accounted for 16% of Group Ebitda. Statement by Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano “This half-year report confirms the trend of uninterrupted growth shown by the Hera Group over the last 15 years, respecting the content of its Business plan, in spite of an often difficult macroeconomic scenario. At present, the increase in Ebitda indicates that we should reach the milestone of one billion by the end of 2018, while the profits accumulated over the last six months, corresponding to 10.8 cents per share, already entirely cover the 10 cent dividend foreseen by the Business plan for the current year. These figures and outlooks provide further confirmation of the solidity of our multi-business model and the constant attention we show towards our shareholders”. Statement by CEO Stefano Venier “The results for the first half of 2018 once again reward the accuracy of the choices and initiatives implemented regarding operations, taxes and finance. Internal growth, as defined by factors including the efficiencies achieved, has brought ROE to 10%. These results are also sustained by all quantitative performance measures, which show positive trends, with an energy customer base growing by 110,000 in only 12 months and bringing us just one step away from 2.5 million customers. Taken as a whole, these elements allow us to show further determination towards reaching all of the objectives outlined in the Business plan”. 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 report and related materials will be made 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 2017 are attached. PROFIT & LOSS(M€) 30/06/18 INC% 30/06/17 INC.% CH. CH. % Sales 2,966.7 2,754.0 +212.7 +7.7% Other operating revenues 209.8 7.1% 202.3 7.3% +7.5 +3.7% Raw material (1,327.6) -44.7% (1,178.4) -42.8% +149.2 +12.7% Services costs (1,031.6) -34.8% (981.7) -35.6% +49.9 +5.1% Other operating expenses (30.3) -1.0% (25.8) -0.9% +4.5 +17.5% Personnel costs (281.7) -9.5% (282.4) -10.3% (0.7) (0.2%) Capitalisations 18.3 0.6% 17.9 0.6% +0.4 +2.2% Ebitda 523.6 17.6% 505.9 18.4% +17.7 +3.5% Depreciation and provisions (250.0) -8.4% (243.7) -8.9% +6.3 +2.6% Ebit 273.6 9.2% 262.2 9.5% +11.4 +4.3% Financial inc./(exp.) (39.2) -1.3% (45.9) -1.7% (6.7) (14.6%) Pre tax profit 234.4 7.9% 216.3 7.9% +18.1 +8.4% Tax (72.0) -2.4% (68.3) -2.5% +3.7 +5.4% Net profit before special items 162.4 5.5% 148.0 5.4% +14.4 +9.7% Special items 4.8 0.2% - 0.0% +4.8 +100.0% Net profit 167.2 5.6% 148.0 5.4% +19.2 +13.0% Attributable to: Shareholders of the Parent Company 158.1 5.3% 141.0 5.1% +17.1 +12.1% Minority shareholders 9.1 0.3% 7.0 0.3% +2.2 +30.9% BALANCE SHEET (M€) 30/06/2018 INC.% 31/12/2017 INC.% CH. CH.% Net fixed assets 5,828.2 109.1% 5,780.6 110.5% +47.6 +0.8% Working capital 84.2 1.6% 23.2 0.4% +61.0 +262.9% (Provisions) (571.8) (10.7%) (574.9) (10.9%) +3.0 (0.5%) Net invested capital 5,340.6 100.0% 5,229.0 100.0% +111.6 +2.1% Net equity 2,715.6 50.8% 2,706.0 51.7% +9.6 +0.4% Long term net financial debt 2,847.4 53.4% 2,735.4 52.4% +112.0 +4.1% Short term net financial debt (222.4) (4.2%) (212.4) (4.1%) (10.0) +4.7% Net financial debts 2,625.0 49.2% 2,523.0 48.3% 102.0 +4.0% Net invested capital 5,340.6 100.0% 5,229.0 100.0% +111.6 +2.1% 1H 2018 centrata 1H 2018 For further informations /-/hera-bod-approves-1h-2018-results?inheritRedirect=true Press release /documents/1514726/4880892/GruppoHera_relazione_semestrale_consolidata_al_30_06_2018_eng.1533290641.pdf/61b32b21-49d9-70cc-d10d-6383dfc8c8a2?t=1610019108070 Financial report as at 30/06/2018 http://investornews.gruppohera.it/en/?n=56 Newsletter as at 30/06/2018 Il CdA Hera approva i risultati del terzo trimestre 2018 Hera BoD approves 1H2018 results 2018-07-30