EQS-News: EVN AG: Business development in the first half of 2022/23

EQS-News: EVN AG / Key word(s): Half Year Results
EVN AG: Business development in the first half of 2022/23

25.05.2023 / 07:30 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Highlights

• Increase in Group net result to EUR 217.4m based on different
developments in the individual segments and positive valuation of
energy generation hedges as of 31 March 2023
• Substantial negative effects and half-year loss (EUR 223.1m) at the
energy supply company EVN KG
• Commissioning of the wind park in Japons (12.6 MW, repowering) and the
photovoltaic plant in Grafenwörth (EVN share: 12.2 MWp) – further
renewable projects with a combined capacity of roughly 110 MW
currently under construction
• Share of renewable generation: 72.0%
• Increase in annual investments to over EUR 600m, of which roughly
three-fourths in Lower Austria
• Commission received for the construction of a wastewater treatment
plant and sewage sludge utilisation plant in North Macedonia
• Ratings confirmed: Moody’s (A1, outlook: stable); Scope Rating (A+,
outlook: stable)

 

Energy sector environment

The first half of 2022/23 was influenced by mild temperatures which were
lower than the previous year as well as the long-term average in EVN’s
three core markets. The prices for primary energy generally declined after
strong fluctuations in the previous reporting period. The market prices
for base load and peak load electricity were substantially lower during
the first half of 2022/23 but remain at a high level: The spot market
prices for base load and peak load electricity averaged EUR 178.3 per MWh
and EUR 215.8 per MWh, respectively, and reflect a substantial reduction
below the comparable prior year values of EUR 211.0 per MWh and EUR 251.4
per MWh. The price for CO[2] emission certificates represented an
exception with an increase during the reporting period.

 

Revenue, EBIT and Group net result above previous year

Revenue recorded by the EVN Group rose by 3.1% to EUR 2,192.6m in the
first half of 2022/23. This increase was supported, above all, by price
effects from renewable electricity generation, valuation effects from
hedges and price adjustments at EVN Wärme. In South East Europe, higher
network tariffs and an unscheduled electricity price increase for the
regulated household customer segment in North Macedonia only partly offset
the revenue lost due to lower network and energy sales volumes and
declining electricity prices. Growth was also recorded in the
international project business through progress on the major project in
Kuwait.

In line with the development of revenue in South East Europe, the cost of
energy purchases from third parties and primary energy expenses declined
by 22.1% to EUR 1,024.2m. Contrasting factors included, above all, higher
costs for network losses and upstream network costs for Netz
Niederösterreich as well as higher energy procurement costs for EVN Wärme.
Moreover, expenses in the previous year were reduced by compensation
payments from the Bulgarian government to cover the network losses caused
by higher energy prices.

The cost of materials and services rose by 12.5% to EUR 326.7m consistent
with the development of revenue in the international project business and
as a result of inflation.

Personnel expenses were 7.7% higher year-on-year at EUR 193.2m due to
adjustments required by collective bargaining agreements. The number of
employees increased to 7,185 (previous year: 7,147 employees).

Other operating expenses rose by 61.5% to EUR 100.8m. This position
includes the levy on the surplus proceeds earned from electricity
generation which has been payable in Austria since December 2022.

The share of results from equity accounted investees with operational
nature equalled EUR –143.3m in the first half of 2022/23 (previous year:
EUR 85.2m). This sharp drop – as reported in the first quarter and
projected for the remainder of this year – is attributable to the energy
supply company EVN KG, where business development was massively influenced
by multiple factors: In addition to higher procurement costs for energy
which can only be passed on to customers with a delay, earnings were
negatively influenced by the lower valuation of hedges as of 31 March
2023, additions to the provisions for impending losses from contractual
delivery obligations and the valuation of natural gas inventories
purchased in the previous year at significantly higher wholesale prices to
protect supply security in view of the threatened stop in gas deliveries.
A contrasting factor was the improvement in the earnings contribution from
RAG, the Verbund Innkraftwerke and Burgenland Energie.

Based on these developments, EBITDA recorded by the EVN Group rose by
11.0% year-on-year to EUR 466.4m in the first half of 2022/23. Investments
led to an increase of 2.7% in scheduled depreciation and amortisation to
EUR 162.6m. A comparison of this position with the previous year is also
influenced by the absence of EUR 50.9m from impairment testing in 2021/22:
Impairment losses of EUR 57.3m in the international project business had
been contrasted by a revaluation of EUR 6.4m to the Kavarna wind park in
Bulgaria. In total, EBIT rose by 44.0% to EUR 303.8m.

Financial results improved to EUR –27.5m (previous year: EUR –31.3m)
despite an increase in interest expense and foreign exchange valuation
effects. This development reflected the better performance of the R138
fund and EVN’s cash funds.

The result before income tax equalled EUR 276.2m for the reporting period
and was 53.7% higher than the previous year. After the deduction of EUR
35.2m (previous year: EUR 44.1m) in income tax expense and the earnings
attributable to non-controlling interests, Group net result for the period
equalled EUR 217.4m. That represents a year-on-year increase of 70.6%.

 

Solid balance sheet structure

EVN’s capital structure remains solid and stable. The increase in net debt
to EUR 1,748.4m as of 31 Mach 2023 resulted from the continuing high level
of investment and from the liquidity settlement for the energy supply
company EVN KG to cover working capital requirements.

 

Energy. Water. Life. – Developments in the energy and environmental
services business

Energy business

EVN’s electricity generation declined by 21.2% year-on-year to 1,573 GWh
in the first half of 2022/23. Favourable water flows were unable to fully
offset the below-average wind flows. The Theiss power plant, which is
available to the transmission network operator to stabilise the
electricity networks, was used much less frequently than in the previous
year.

The share of renewable generation rose to 72.0% (previous year: 59.7%).
The wind park in Japons, which was rebuilt as part of a repowering, was
commissioned in January 2023 (installed capacity: 12.6 MW). In February
2023, the largest floating photovoltaic plant in Central Europe was
commissioned in Grafenwörth (EVN share: 12.2 MWp). Three further wind
parks and three photovoltaic projects with total capacity of 72 MW and 36
MW, respectively, are currently under construction in line with the
targets for the expansion of renewable energy. EVN’s annual investments
were increased to over EUR 600m, of which roughly three-fourths are
located in Lower Austria with a focus on network infrastructure, renewable
generation and drinking water supplies.

 

Environmental and water business

Investments in drinking water supplies continue to focus on the planning
and construction of transport and connecting pipelines to improve and
protect supply security.

In the international project business, WTE Wassertechnik received a
commission for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant and a
sewage sludge utilisation plant in Skopje, North Macedonia, as part of a
general contractor assignment. The contract value totals approximately EUR
184m. As of 31 March 2023, WTE Wassertechnik was working on the planning
and construction of 14 projects for wastewater treatment, drinking water
treatment and thermal sludge utilisation in Germany, Poland, Lithuania,
Romania, North Macedonia, Bahrain and Kuwait

 

Outlook and special dividend for the 2022/23 financial year

The contribution by EVN’s operating activities to Group net result for the
2022/23 financial year is expected to reflect the upper end of the
previously communicated range at approximately EUR 250m. In addition, the
earnings contribution from the investment in Verbund AG in the amount of
EUR 158m will contribute to the Group net result in 2022/23. The Executive
Board decided and reported on 15 May 2023 to propose to the 95^th Annual
General Meeting on 1 February 2024 a special dividend of EUR 0.62 per
share in addition to the ordinary dividend for the 2022/23 financial year.
The ordinary dividend is expected to amount to at least EUR 0.52 per
share.

 

The Letter to Shareholders on the first half of 2022/23 is available under
www.investor.evn.at.

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25.05.2023 CET/CEST This Corporate News was distributed by EQS Group AG.
www.eqs.com

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Language: English
Company: EVN AG
EVN Platz
2344 Maria Enzersdorf
Austria
Phone: +43-2236-200-12294
E-mail: info@evn.at
Internet: www.evn.at
ISIN: AT0000741053
WKN: 074105
Indices: ATX
Listed: Vienna Stock Exchange (Official Market)
EQS News ID: 1640901

 
End of News EQS News Service

1640901  25.05.2023 CET/CEST

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