Hera Group acquires the company Tiepolo to build a photovoltaic power station in the Ferrara area
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Hera Group acquires the company Tiepolo to build a photovoltaic power station in the Ferrara area
This transaction, strongly linked to the local social and industrial fabric, represents a major new commitment made by the Group to promote the energy transition and decarbonisation in the areas it serves.
Only two months after the establishment of Horowatt, a NewCo between Hera Group and Orogel that within 2024 will create an innovative and sustainable agrivoltaic plant in the agricultural cooperative’s Cesena facilities, Hera’s programme for developing cutting-edge integrated solutions in the field of clean energy is making rapid progress. This morning, Hera Group finalised the acquisition of Tiepolo Srl, owned by Combigas and Greenfield Renewables (each one holding 50% of the shares), which has developed a project for constructing a solar park in Bondeno (Ferrara) capable of meeting the needs of over 5,000 households.
The plant, which will have a capacity of 8.9 megawatts and will generate approximately 13 GWh/year when fully operational, is one of the Hera Group’s numerous projects aimed at producing renewable energy and already included in the Business Plan to 2026, to support citizens, businesses and public administrations in the decarbonisation and electrification of their consumption. In order to make a significant contribution to reducing climate-changing gas emissions in all localities served and accompany them towards carbon neutrality, the Group has not only allocated significant investments for the energy transition in its Business Plan, but has also set up a new business unit entirely dedicated to renewable energy production and energy management.
“For the Hera Group, combating climate change is crucial and translates into a strong focus on the energy transition in all strategic areas of development outlined in our Business Plan to 2026”, comments Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group. “These concrete initiatives promote renewable energy sources, from photovoltaics to new models of distributed power generation and from hydrogen to biomethane, which will play an increasingly important role in the process towards the decarbonisation and energy security of our country. Once again, Hera’s contribution will be crucial for the sustainable development of all local areas in which we operate.”
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Strong interest from international investors in Hera’s first European Green Bond (EuGB) with a 6-year maturity, which will finance strategic projects of the multi-utility aligned with the EU Taxonomy. Orders received amouned to 7 times the offered amount.
The Hera Group, the first Italian company to issue a green bond in 2014, continues today its commitment to sustainable finance with the launch of its first European Green Bond (“EuGB”), under its “Euro Medium Term Note Programme” (EMTN). This bond issuance – in line with its European Green Bond Factsheet, published in the dedicated section of the Group’s website (https://eng.gruppohera.it/group_eng/investor-relations/debt-and-rating/green-financing-framework-e-opinion), together with the relevant Pre-Issuance Review, attracted significant interest from international investors, receiving orders for approximately 3.6 billion euros, nearly 7 times the offered amount.
With this issuance, which corresponds to the fifth green issuance overall considering all those carried out by the multi-utility over the last 12 years, the Hera Group has once again offered the market the opportunity to finance strategic projects aimed at the green transition and aligned with the EU Taxonomy, reaffirming its position as a benchmark company for sustainable finance, also at an international level.
“The issuance of our first European Green Bond represents a further concrete step in the Hera Group’s sustainability journey, confirming our commitment towards carbon neutrality and the development of the circular economy” – states Orazio Iacono, Chief Executive Officer of the Hera Group. “This new sustainable finance instrument allows us to fund investments fully aligned with the EU Taxonomy, accelerating strategic projects for the energy and environmental transition, from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the increase in resource recovery and regeneration. This is a significant contribution to our business plan and to the Net Zero 2050 target, confirming our Group’s strategy, where business growth, value creation, and sustainable development are closely interconnected.”.
Characteristics of the Group’s European Green Bond (“EuGB”) and funded areas
The Hera Group’s first European Green Bond (“EuGB”) (rated Baa1 with Stable Outlook by Moody’s and BBB+/A-2 with Stable Outlook by Standard & Poor’s), amounts to a total of 500 million euros, repayable in 6 years with a coupon of 3.50% and a yield of 3.574%. The settlement date of the new issuance is expected on 4 June 2026.
The EuGB is represented by senior, non-convertible, unsecured notes, intended for circulation among qualified investors and governed by English law. Furthermore, the European Green Bond (EuGB) is expected to be assigned a rating in line with that of Hera.
The transaction saw significant participation from international investors (in particular, United Kingdom, France, Germany). Substantially all of investors were green and sustainable, confirming the interest in the Group also beyond national borders.
The European Green Bond is expected to be listed on the regulated market of Euronext Dublin from the issue date, as well as on the regulated markets of Euronext Milan and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
In accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2023/2631, the proceeds from the issuance are expected to finance or refinance the projects indicated in the Hera Group’s European Green Bond Factsheet, fully aligned with the EU Taxonomy.
In particular, the use of proceeds will cover three main areas:
- Sustainable management of water resources and wastewater: including construction, expansion and management of water collection, treatment and supply systems (economic activity 5.1 of the EU Taxonomy), as well as construction, expansion and management of wastewater collection and treatment systems (economic activity 5.3 of the EU Taxonomy);
- Circular economy, pollution prevention and control: including initiatives for the collection and transport of non-hazardous waste in source-segregated fractions (economic activity 5.5 of the EU Taxonomy);
- Energy efficiency and energy infrastructure: including (i) the generation of electricity using solar photovoltaic technology, (ii) the transmission and distribution of electricity, and (iii) installation, maintenance and repair of energy efficiency devices (economic activities 4.1, 4.9 and 7.3 of the EU Taxonomy).
To ensure the correct and transparent allocation of funds, Hera has adopted a monitoring and reporting process that provides for the publication of relevant information through a “Green Bond Report” which will include the “Allocation Reporting and the Impact Reporting”.
Transaction partners
The issuance of the Hera Group’s first European Green Bond (“EuGB”) was coordinated by BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole CIB, Mediobanca, UniCredit, BBVA, Intesa Sanpaolo – IMI CIB Division, Banco Santander, Banca AKROS, Deutsche Bank, BPER Banca, Montepaschi di Siena, Barclays, Caixabank and Goldman Sachs as Joint Bookrunners. The law firm Legance assisted Hera, while the law firm Linklaters supported the Joint Bookrunners.