EVN AG (EVN) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to EVN's Conference Call for the First Three Quarters of 2025-2026 Financial Year. The conference will be recorded. [Operator Instructions] Let me now turn the floor over to Alexandra Wittmann.

Good morning, everybody, to EVN's conference call on the results for the first 3 quarters of our current financial year. The results we will present today are solid and fully in line with the developments we reported for the first 6 months of the financial year. Before we dive into the key financials and the segments, let me start with a few operational highlights. As in many parts of Europe, Austria experienced an exceptionally dry and extremely hot summer. As a result, hydro generation conditions were historically weak. In addition, the combination of heat waves and reduced base load from hydro generation led to increased volatility in intraday power prices. The weather developments we have seen this year demonstrate the importance of diversification and flexibility in the energy sector. Against this backdrop, we remain focused on expanding our renewable generation portfolio and enhancing flexibility through battery storage solutions. These measures help us address the challenges associated with the transformation of the energy system, geopolitical uncertainties and climate-related effects. In our Generation portfolio, wind power is a key complement to hydropower. The expansion of our wind fleet is progressing according to plan. By the end of June, our installed wind capacity has reached 570 megawatts, and we are currently working on the construction of several new projects, and our project pipeline until 2030 remains solid, too. Just the other week, we received the environmental permit for the repowering of one of our wind farms. This project will increase installed capacity from 23 megawatts to 36 megawatts while reducing the number of turbines from 7 to 5 and increasing annual output by about 60%. Let me now turn to electrification and the increasing integration of energy and mobility. The acceptance and popularity of electric vehicles continues to grow steadily in Austria. By the end of July, the number of registered electric vehicles in Austria exceeded 300,000 for the first time. This is now a share of more than 5% of registered vehicles. Lower Austria remains the leading province with more than 62,000 registered electric vehicles. This development supports our strategy of positioning e-charging infrastructure as one of our core investment areas, and we expect further growth in the years ahead. I would also like to remind you that EVN operates drinking water infrastructure in Lower Austria. While this business is much smaller than our energy infrastructure operations, it represents an essential public service and an important part of our overall infrastructure portfolio. Around 650,000 customers in Lower Austria rely on our water supply services every day. Water infrastructure is also a key element of our investment program. We currently invest between EUR 20 million to EUR 25 million per year on average, and we have developed a long-term CapEx plan for this business. By 2055, we intend to invest a total approximately of EUR 400 million in additional cross-regional transmission pipelines, water reservoirs and other drinking water infrastructure. Due to this year's heat and drought conditions, water sales volumes are expected to reach a new record level of around 33 million cubic meters. This once again underlines the importance of our long-term investment strategy, and we remain convinced that our strategic focus prepares us for future requirements and customer needs. I can confirm that we are fully on track to implement this year's investment program. We plan to invest up to EUR 1 billion annually up to 2030. The majority, around 80%, will be invested regionally in Lower Austria. Key areas include network infrastructure, renewable generation, battery storage, e-charging infrastructure and drinking water supply. Now on the next slide, I will take you through the main financial developments in the reporting period. The overall picture and the key drivers were largely the same as those reported for the first quarter and the first half of the financial year. With that in mind, let me focus on some key developments. Our regulated network business in Austria continued to benefit from growth in the regulated asset base and the resulting increase in tariffs. In addition, both the Energy segment and the Southeast Europe segment delivered a strong performance. Within the Energy segment, the normalization of earnings in the Austrian supply business continued as expected. On the other hand, earnings from renewable generation declined, reflecting lower electricity prices as well as reduced generation volumes from hydropower. Financial results improved due to the higher dividend contribution from Verbund. Please also keep in mind that the current financial year includes 3 positive one-off effects, which together amount to EUR 52.5 million. Other operating income includes a positive effect of EUR 10 million from the badwill associated with the acquisition of a fiber infrastructure company in December '25. A further EUR 10 million relates to the reversal of a provision for a tax audit following a favorable outcome for EVN, making the provision no longer necessary. Finally, group net result includes EUR 32.5 million from discontinued operations, which result from the sale and deconsolidation of the international project business. It includes the OCI recycling of foreign exchange effects and valuations previously recorded in equity. Based on these developments, EBITDA and EBIT were up by roughly 5% and 3%. Group net result was 21% higher and stood at EUR 525.1 million. We are amending the full year guidance. Also, due to the before mentioned positive noncash and nonrecurring effect, we now expect group net results to be within a range of EUR 470 million to EUR 490 million. Now, let's move on to the next slide, which provides information regarding the group balance sheet structure. The sale of the international project business had a positive effect on EVN's net debt of EUR 206 million in total. Thereof, EUR 100 million was the purchase price and EUR 106 million was former intragroup financing, which was assigned to STRABAG. As a consequence, net debt declined to EUR 942 million by end of June with a gearing of 14% by end of March. However, due to our high investments, which will total EUR 1 billion for the financial year, net debt will again increase to about EUR 1.2 billion by the end of September. Our financial flexibility remains secured and solid. EVN holds contractually committed undrawn credit lines in the amount of EUR 765 million. On the next slide, I will walk you through the developments in our segments. Since these are largely a continuation of the trends we have already discussed for the first 2 quarters, I will keep this section brief and will focus on the most relevant points. Let's start with the Energy segment. Within the Energy segment, the most notable development in the third quarter was the continued normalization of our equity consolidated supply company, EVN KG. It contributed EUR 38 million results as of end of June as compared to EUR 1.5 million in the first 3 quarters of the previous year. The full year result of EVN KG will largely depend on the further development of the market prices. Apart from that, the development from the first half continued. Segment revenue declined due to the price effects in the marketing of own generation, whereas revenue in the Heating business was supported by the cold temperatures during winter. All these developments led to an EBITDA of EUR 110 million compared to EUR 84 million in the previous year. EBIT came in at EUR 86 million. Let's turn to our Generation segment. Electricity generation volumes in the segment declined by 7% year-on-year. While the commissioning of new wind parks and repowerings helped to offset a substantial share of the lower volumes resulting from below average wind and water flows in Austria, the non-renewal of the reserve capacity contract for the Theiss power plant by APG led to a significant decline in thermal generation. In addition to these volume effects, the lower prices for the marketing of generation resulted in declining revenue and earnings from electricity generation. Our equity accounted investee, Verbund Innkraftwerke, contributed lower earnings compared to the previous year due to weaker water flows and lower market prices. In total, the segment EBITDA was down by 42% and stood at EUR 76 million. EBIT amounted to EUR 38 million. Next up is our Networks segment. As already mentioned, the Networks segment showed a strong performance. In line with the Austrian regulation, segment results are reflecting the ongoing high investments in the network infrastructure and RAB related growth. Due to the higher tariffs, EBITDA was up by 21% and amounted to EUR 348 million, and EBIT totaled EUR 195 million. Finally, let's move on to the Southeast Europe segment. The segment had solid first 9 months. This was supported by, among others, the absence of previous year's regulatory compensation factors in the Bulgarian grid business as well as higher energy demand in North Macedonia due to colder weather. Segment EBITDA was up by 19% and amounted to EUR 154 million. Segment EBIT was EUR 80 million in the first 3 quarters. In April, we commissioned our first large battery storage facility, which is co-located with a PV plant. During summer, the battery was expanded from 20 to 40 megawatt hours. Around 1/3 of our 300-megawatt battery storage target for 2030 is planned to be built in Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Let me now continue with the development of our group cash flows. Gross cash flow was down by 1.6% year-on-year to EUR 750 million. Positive factors such as the higher dividend payment from Verbund were unable to completely offset the correction of noncash earnings components related to the deconsolidation of international project business. Cash flow from operating activities totaled EUR 631 million. Working capital was influenced by an increase in trade receivables and a decline in trade liabilities, which were reduced by an increase in the liquidity commitment between EVN KG and EVN Group. Cash flow from investing activities amounted to minus EUR 257 million. Higher investments were contrasted by the proceeds from the sale of the international project business. The cash flow from financing activities was minus EUR 230 million and included scheduled repayments of loans as well as our dividend payment for the '24-'25 financial year. The previous year included new financial liabilities of EUR 225 million. The net change in cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 144 million. With this, I have reached the end of today's presentation, and I would like to turn to the outlook. Let me repeat that we amend the guidance today. We expect group net results to be within a range of EUR 470 million to EUR 490 million. The lifting of the upper range also reflects the positive noncash and nonrecurring effects, which I had mentioned earlier in the call. Finally, I would like to invite you to our Capital Markets Day, which we will host in London on the 1st of October. Preparations are already in full swing, and you can look forward to an insightful morning. Together with my 2 Executive Board colleagues and various EVN experts, we will share our perspectives on energy sector dynamics and the implications with a particular focus on our core markets, digital transformation, infrastructure trends and EVN's strategic positioning. In addition, we will provide an update on our medium-term financial ambitions. And following a Q&A session, you will have the opportunity to engage directly with our management team and all the experts. Don't miss the opportunity. Join us at Banking Hall in London. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. and concludes about noon. That's the end of our presentation, and we are looking forward to answering your questions, if any.

[Operator Instructions] The first question is from Patrick Steiner, ODDO BHF.

Patrick Steiner speaking, ODDO BHF. Congratulations on the results. Two questions from my side. Firstly, the new full year guidance implies quite a negative contribution for the fourth quarter in terms of net result, minus EUR 35 million to minus EUR 55 million. Can you elaborate on this a bit more why you expect such a negative fourth quarter? That's the first question. And the second question is about the Generation segment. We've seen 17.9% and 41.9% year-on-year development on revenue and on EBITDA, as you've explained already driven by weak wind and water flows, declining market prices offset by additional wind capacities. Can you give us some more details on how this 18% revenue decline year-on-year is split into pricing -- volume? I mean, we know that the electricity generation volume is minus 7% year-on-year and also due to the effect of the additional capacities, which you have brought online during the year.

Thanks, Patrick, for the question. I start with question #1 on the full-year guidance. As you know, in our business, there is a clear seasonal bias. We have seen this before. We have a significantly higher energy demand during the winter half year. And consequently, especially our fourth quarter results during the summer traditionally differ from those of the rest of the year. Same situation we had last year. And on your second question on the wind and hydro conditions, if we, let's say, a little bit of a quantification impact of volume versus price effect, I would say for hydro, the negative EBITDA effect was about EUR 12 million. About half is volume effect, the other half is price effect. For wind, the explanation is different as the commissioning of new wind parks compensated all of the negative volume and even most of the price effect. Does that answer your questions or...

Yes, yes, yes, that's very helpful.