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The results achieved by the multi-utility in favouring the transition towards a circular economy have once again been recognised, by this pre-competitive innovation programme which was established to enable organisations to develop new opportunities and realise their circular economy ambitions faster In this sense, some crucial elements for Hera's entry within the CE100 include reaching well in advance the targets set by the EU across the areas served by the Group, its commitment in terms of energy efficiency with the target of a 5% reduction in consumption by 2020 and the exclusive use of renewable energy as of 2017, the Sant'Agata Bolognese biomethane project and a significant presence of organic waste recovery through biodigesters for renewable electricity production. Furthermore, the Group has now entered the sector of plastic recycling, with the recent acquisition of Aliplast, and promotes numerous projects for environmental education in schools alongside initiatives for waste reduction through reuse (Scart, Cambia il finale, Ciboamico and Farmacoamico, among others). This recognition confirms and gives new impetus to a strategy which has long been in the works, thanks to which the Hera Group has progressively increased its commitment towards sustainability and a circular economy. Ultimately, it has allowed the Group to quantify - as of the 2016 Sustainability Report - the shared value produced, i.e. the amount of EBITDA generated by pursuing objectives that meet the priorities of the UN's 2030 Agenda (a figure that reached € 300 million in 2016, 33% of the total). Hera's commitment, already in line with EU objectives - reached and surpassed as regards a reduced use of landfills and packaging recycling - can now be seen on an international stage. It thus gains further breadth, qualifying this multi-utility as a protagonist in consolidating models of development that, along the lines set out by the CE100 programme, lead growth and environmental protection to converge. logo_testo_blu.1507715078.jpg sinistra logo testo blu https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/ce100 Read more Press_Release.1507799175.pdf Logo CE100 blu 110 Logo CE100 blu 110 2017-10-11

The consolidated first-half report at 30 June confirms growth in all operating and financial indicators, as already seen in the first quarter, and a positive contribution coming from all business areas, with external growth among the factors responsible. Financial highlights Revenues at € 2,754.0 million (+10.0%) EBITDA at € 505.9 million (+7.6%) Net profit post minorities at € 141.0 million (+16.5%) Net debt at € 2,611.7 million Operational highlights All the Group’s businesses contributed to growth, the energy area in particular Results marked internal growth Positive effects from recent acquisitions in liberalised markets, above all in the waste area Solid customer base in the energy sectors (over 2.3 million), rising by 140,000 customers compared to H1 2016 Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the consolidated economic results for the first half of the year, which confirm the Group’s ongoing positive trend with all main indicators showing growth. Having reached these results is yet another reward for the Group’s balanced and agile operational stance and for its business model, which has always combined the two strategic levers of internal and external growth. The figures for the first half of 2017 benefitted from Aliplast and a corporate branch of Teseco becoming part of the Group, and from the tenders awarded for default and safeguarded gas supply services for the two-year period 2017-2018. Revenues amount to over € 2.75 billion In the first half of 2017, revenues came to € 2,754 million, with a € 251.2 million (+10.0%) increase over the € 2,502.8 seen in the same period of 2016. This result was supported not only by recent acquisitions but also by a higher amount of trading activity, higher regulated revenues for the water service and the electricity area as well as higher volumes of gas sold. EBITDA rises to € 505.9 million EBITDA settled at € 505.9 million, recording growth for almost € 36 million (+7.6%) compared to June 2016. This increase is due to the good performance shown by all of the Group’s areas, but in particular the energy areas. Positive results were also seen in the integrated water cycle area and the waste area. Growth in pre-tax profits, partially owing to financial management EBIT came to € 262.2 million, with an increase over the € 257.4 million seen in the same period of 2016. Financial charges also improved, settling at € 45.9 million, down € 12.1 million compared to the same period in 2016. This performance was made possible by a lower average debt and more efficient rates. In light of this situation pre-tax profits grew from € 199.4 million at 30 June 2016 to € 216.3 million in the first half of 2017. Net profit post minorities increase to € 141 million (+16.5%) Profit post minorities at 30 June 2017 rose to € 141 million, +16.5% compared to the € 121 seen in 2016. This was due among other things to a notable improvement in the tax rate, which went from 35.7% to 31.6% (thanks in particular to a decrease in the Ires rate and lesser taxes ensuing from the Group’s wider scope of activity). Over € 170 million in investments, and a financial position fundamentally in line with 2016 In the first six months of 2017 the Group’s investments, including capital grants, amounted to € 170.6 million, up by € 13.4 million (+8.5%) over June 2016. Operating investments mainly involved interventions on plants, networks and infrastructures, in addition to regulatory upgrading concerning gas distribution above all, with a large-scale meter substitution, and the purification and sewage area. Net debt remained basically stable, coming to € 2,611.7 million at 30 June 2017 as against € 2,558.9 million at 31 December 2016. The positive cash flows generated in the first half-year, which amounted to € 188.8 million, allowed the annual dividend payment and M&A operations, in particular the acquisition of Aliplast, to be financed. Gas The gas business, which includes services in natural gas and LPG distribution and sales, district heating and heat management, recorded an EBITDA which settled at € 171.8 million in the first half of 2017, up compared to the € 165.2 million seen at 30 June 2016 (+4.0%). This was due to higher volumes of gas sold, higher profits in trading and the larger area covered in default services. The number of gas customers, roughly 1.4 million, rose by 3.5% compared to the same period in 2016. This growth is due to commercial actions, the tenders awarded for default and last resort gas services, and the acquisition of the Abruzzo company Gran Sasso. The gas area accounted for 34.0% of Group EBITDA. Water The integrated water cycle, which includes aqueduct, purification and sewerage services, recorded an EBITDA that went from € 106.6 million in the first half of 2016 to € 111.3 million at 30 June 2017, up by 4.4% thanks to higher revenues for distribution and higher costs recognised. A further positive factor was the contribution coming from the bonus for service quality awarded by regulatory authorities on the basis of the current tariffary method. The integrated water cycle area accounted for 25.1% of Group EBITDA. Waste EBITDA for the waste business, which includes waste collection, treatment and disposal services, rose to € 121.3 million (+4.1%) in the first half of 2017, compared to the € 116.5 million seen at 30 June 2016. This positive trend was supported not only by the purchase of a branch of Teseco and the higher volumes of market waste treated, but above all by the entrance within the Group’s scope of Aliplast, a national leader in plastic recycling, which consolidated the Group’s position in circular economy development. These results are all the more appreciable considering that, as foreseen by the business plan, the end of incentives for renewables had a negative effect on the half-year amounting to over € 6 million. Further enhancement was also seen in sorted waste, which went from 56.9% in the first half of 2016 to 57.6% in June 2017. The waste area accounted for 24% of Group EBITDA. Electricity The electricity business, which includes services in electricity production, distribution and sales, recorded an EBITDA that grew to € 91.6 million compared to the € 73.1 million seen at 30 June 2016 (+25.2%), thanks to higher profits in safeguarded services, sales on the free market and electricity production. The number of customers in this sector also showed an increase of 8.8% (75.2 thousand), mainly due to growth on the free market following commercial actions and a wider customer base. The electricity area accounted for 18.1% 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 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 ). Unaudited extracts from the Interim Financial Statements at 30 June 2017 are attached. Statement by Executive Chairman Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano “H1 2017 reported figures are positive once again, thanks to the solidity of our multi-business model and our ability to combine the two levers of internal and external growth. In addition to the organic growth seen across all of the Group’s business areas, a significant contribution to these results came from the acquisition of Aliplast, consolidated as of this semester, which will act as a key factor in developing our circular economy system”. Statement by CEO Stefano Venier “The results seen in the H1 2017 report confirm the success of the actions aimed at growth deployed on both an operational level and in fiscal and financial optimisation. Our key performance indicators also showed further improvement, as expected by our business plan. Furthermore, we remain focused on creating value for our stakeholders, providing proof once again of the attention given by our Group to all facets of economic, social and environmental sustainability”. 1H 2017 centrata 1H 2017 For further informations /-/hera-s-bod-approves-h1-2017-results-1?inheritRedirect=true Press release Hera's BoD approves H1 2017 results Hera's BoD approves H1 2017 results 2014-03-19

A contribution of 750 euro for every university student, for a total investment of 30 thousand euro. The initiative is part of activities envisaged by "Hextra" to support education. "Hextra" is the multi-utility company's welfare plan that, from this year, has also been extended to employees with a fixed-term contract. Perseverence, speed and excellence in educational achievement: academic merit was duly rewarded at Hera's offices in Bologna yesterday. A ceremony was held for the Executive Chairman, Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, to award 40 scholarships to the children of employees who, during the academic year 2015-2016, distinguished themselves for the results achieved in their university studies. The initiative, which is one of the many activities organised by "Hextra", the Hera Group's welfare plan, to support education, was launched last April to reward commitment by adopting objective evaluation criteria, based on the principles of fairness and merit. Indeed, the forty most deserving students were chosen considering a list that was drawn up taking into account the following parameters: whether the student was on track with the study plan for the academic year, the number of credits acquired and the mean marks of examinations passed during the year. The applications submitted to the company were more than 70. Each of the 40 students awarded was given an individual scholarship of 750 euro, amounting to a total corporate investment of 30,000 euro. This is only the latest initiative of the corporate welfare plan that has, since 2017, also been extended to fixed-term employees who have been working at least 6 months. After initially considering the 8,500 people employed by Group companies, Hera has thus taken the final step to fully involve all its staff. "One year after the launch, we are still investing in our welfare plan and in the progress of our employees and their families," said the Executive Chairman Tommasi di Vignano. In one year Hextra achieved remarkable results; hence, we found it natural to extend its efficacy also to fixed-term employees. This decision ranks our company alongside leading international firms. We wish to go on creating value and efficiency for all subjects involved, contributing to protect the portfolio of families in the economically challenging moment the world is experiencing today". Easy Welfare, a company in the sector that reviewed the best practices of over 350 Italian companies, last June awarded the Hera Group at the "Welfare Awards 2017" for the "Best Communication Plan", which recorded the participation in "Hextra" of almost all its staff (97%), recording an overall sum of 1,902,456 euro used by its employees. "Hextra": the Hera Group's welfare plan The Hera Group launched "Hextra" in July 2016. It is an integrated corporate welfare plan that has been studied to make the most of existing initiatives, harmonising its application in all locations where the multi-utility company operates. A standard and yet highly customisable system for all its companies. As a matter of fact, the special feature is the flexible quota that can be allocated as desired by the individual worker, who will decide on the basis of personal and family needs. The sum envisaged for 2017 is 360 euro (against 200 in 2016) and for 2018 is 385 euro. In addition to this, Hera also supports employees with school-age children with an additional contribution to be solely used for schooling expenses. Requests submitted for the year 2016/2017 totalled 3,821, recording an overall amount of over 380,000 euro. 20170718_foto_gruppo_870x_s1.1500467957.jpg welfare_110x150.1470845183.1500391284.png 110 hextra 2017-07-27

During the workshop "Financing Energy Efficiency in the Public Administration Sector", organised by CESEF in Hera's Bologna offices, the company's CEO was favourable to the solution adopted for energy management in the Public Administration Sector. "Regarding energy efficiency, operators must be given the time required to obtain investments, and the public must have the opportunity to make the most of it", said Stefano Venier, CEO of the Hera Group, discussing one of the crucial topics of Italian energy policies. Achieving the increasingly ambitious goal of reducing consumptions presents municipalities with new and highly challenging management solutions. In this regard, "finance is not a problem", said Venier, in the introductory notes to the conference 'Financing Energy Efficiency in the Public Administration Sector', held this morning by CESEF (Energy Efficiency Study Centre) in Hera's Bologna offices. Conversely, efficiency enhancing interventions have several tools to obtain the necessary resources". But the system functions effectively only if the division of roles is clearly defined. "The operative setting is crucial for a positive outcome. The Administration establishes goals and targets", said the CEO Venier, "and the operator is required to implement the functional interventions required to achieve them". "Our Group," said Stefano Venier, "has always played a leading role in terms of energy efficiency. With 117 interventions implemented in 2016, we have already cut down consumptions by 2.6%, compared to the 3% goal established for this year, which will be easily overcome as a result of scheduled activities. This is the reason why we reviewed it with an increment, aiming at 5% within 2020". CESEF's Director, Stefano Clerici, said, "The Public Administration Sector must understand the opportunities generated by energy efficiency in economic, environmental and also political terms. Hence, CESEF is building a tool box for energy efficiency in the Public Administration Sector to provide the most appropriate tools to solve the problems that block investments in this framework. Considering funds, it is essential to use the latest public-private partnership agreements that fairly divide the risks of the project between the Public Administration Sector and private operators and attract the abundant resources that are available especially in the banking world". Some success cases in the Public Administration Sector were presented at the conference organised in partnership with Confservizi Emilia Romagna. Participating institutions included the Emilia Romagna Regional Administration, Bologna and Budrio Municipalities, Modena Agency for Energy and Sustainable Development and ANCI Emilia Romagna. Many companies joined the discussion with Hera Luce, a Group member company that ranks second in Italy for public lighting. Best cases presented by Hera Luce included energy upgrading plans that are currently being implemented in some Emilia Romagna municipalities. efficienza_energetica.1501232935.png Energy efficiency Read more Energy efficiency Energy efficiency 2017-07-27