E.ON SE

Earnings Release • Aug 12, 2015

News Details

Corporate | 12 August 2015 07:30

E.ON SE: E.ON confirms full-year outlook and reduces debt

E.ON SE / Key word(s): Half Year Results

2015-08-12 / 07:30

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E.ON confirms full-year outlook and reduces debt

– EBITDA and underlying net income below prior-year figures, as anticipated

– Economic net debt reduced by EUR4.1 billion

– Division of company into E.ON and Uniper moving forward on schedule

– Carbon intensity of E.ON’s power generation in Europe reduced by 35 percent since 1990

E.ON continues to expect its full-year 2015 EBITDA to be between EUR7 and EUR7.6 billion and its underlying net income to be between EUR1.4 and EUR1.8 billion. In line with the company’s expectations, at the half-year mark both earnings metrics were below the respective prior-year figures. E.ON posted half-year EBITDA of EUR4.3 billion (prior year: EUR4.9 billion, -13 percent) and underlying net income of EUR1.2 billion (EUR1.5 billion, -21 percent). Since the beginning of the year, E.ON has reduced its economic net debt by EUR4.1 billion. Its first-half sales of EUR57.3 billion were about 5 percent above the prior-year figure. Cool temperatures at the start of the year were the primary reason E.ON was able to increase its gas sales volume by 63 percent. E.ON affirmed its plan to pay out a fixed dividend EUR0.50 of per share for the 2015 financial year as well.

The reduction in EBITDA is primarily attributable to a further decline in wholesale electricity prices, lower oil prices, and a weak ruble. These factors affected earnings at three E.ON units in particular: Generation (-29 percent), Exploration & Production (-19 percent), and Non-EU Countries (-33 percent). EBITDA at Renewables (wind, solar, hydro) was also significantly lower (-17 percent), albeit primarily due to divestments and substantial nonrecurring income recorded in the prior-year period. By contrast, Renewables’ earnings began to benefit from the newly operational capacity at Amrumbank West and Humber Gateway offshore wind farms. Earnings were higher at Germany (+6 percent) and Global Commodities (+25 percent). E.ON’s operating cash flow also developed well, but declined from EUR5.5 billion year on year to EUR4.2 billion owing the provisional nuclear-fuel tax refund the company recorded in the prior-year period. Substantial operating cash flow in the first half of the year, proceeds on disposals, and lower provisions for pensions due to higher interest rates were among the factors that enabled E.ON to significantly reduce its economic net debt to EUR29.3 billion.

In presenting E.ON’s interim results, CEO Johannes Teyssen was joined for the first time by new CFO Michael Sen. “Transforming our company during a period of extremely low power prices and volatile oil prices is a challenge,” Sen emphasized. “Yet, we delivered solid results. It’s important that we keep our promises, to the degree that it’s in our control, and meet expectations of investors, customers, as well as the general public. A solid balance sheet and strong cash flow are enabling us to continue to make targeted, disciplined investments in the energy businesses of tomorrow. Almost 2 gigawatts of new and efficient conventional generating capacity will enter service at E.ON power stations in the Netherlands and Russia in the second half of the year, along with more than 500 megawatts of offshore wind power in the North Sea. This will have a positive effect in the quarters ahead. In addition, we plan to build two more large offshore wind farms, one off the U.K. coast, the other in the German Baltic Sea.”

During his presentation Teyssen alluded to the new rules to secure the electricity supply in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Belgium. “Having recognized the importance of ensuring that the electricity supply remains reliable 24/7 into the medium and long term, these countries have already established or will soon establish capacity mechanisms.” E.ON has successfully placed 6 gigawatts of generating capacity in the United Kingdom’s new capacity market. “Germany is lagging behind. Although the German federal government’s Ten-Point Energy Agenda will bring a number of improvements for the years ahead, it won’t establish a reliable regulatory environment for the future of the energy supply and the implementation of the energy transition,” Teyssen said. He added that Germany, like other European countries, needs to ensure that highly efficient and climate-friendly reserve capacity-which consists primarily of gas-fired capacity-is economically viable well into the future.

Teyssen said that the preparations for dividing the company into E.ON and Uniper are on schedule: “We’ve designed both companies’ organizational setup and selected the people to fill the two levels of management positions below the Management Board. These managers are now putting together the teams for their future departments. In addition, we’re gradually also involving outside entities, such as tax authorities and the auditor for the spinoff. The spinoff will result in E.ON focusing primarily on renewables, energy networks, and customer solutions, Uniper on conventional energy businesses, global energy trading, and oil and gas production.”

Looking ahead to the UN Climate Conference in December in Paris, Teyssen expressed confidence: “The latest G7 resolutions and the steps taken to reinvigorate the EU Emissions Trading Scheme augur well for a global treaty to reduce carbon emissions.” He added that E.ON’s own climate-protection efforts are making good progress. Relative to a 1990 baseline, the company has reduced the carbon intensity of its power generation in Europe by 35 percent. “We intend to move resolutely forward along this path,” Teyssen said. “When it comes to climate protection, we want to continue to be part of the solution.”

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Language:	English
Company:	E.ON SE
	E.ON-Platz 1
	40479 Düsseldorf
	Germany
Phone:	+49 (0)211 4579-0
Fax:	+49 (0)211 45 79-5 01
E-mail:	investorrelations@eon.com
Internet:	www.eon.com
ISIN:	DE000ENAG999
WKN:	ENAG99
Indices:	DAX, EURO STOXX 50
Listed:	Regulated Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart; Terminbörse EUREX; Mailand

End of News	DGAP News-Service

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