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Amber Grid Interim / Quarterly Report 2017

Aug 24, 2017

2263_ir_2017-08-24_bca95614-8f5d-47cb-80fd-18c97810b70b.pdf

Interim / Quarterly Report

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AB AMBER GRID INTERIM REPORT FOR THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED ON 30 JUNE 2017

Vilnius 2017

1. GENERAL INFORMATION3
1.1. BACKGROUND 3
1.2. OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY 3
1.3. LONG-TERM STRATEGY OF THE COMPANY9
1.4. EMPLOYEES 9
1.5. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION10
1.6. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 10
2. FINANCIAL RESULTS12
KEY INDICATORS OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM 12
KEY FINANCIAL INDICATORS OF THE COMPANY12
OPERATING PLANS AND PROJECTIONS17
RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM17
3. MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY 18
4. MATERIAL EVENTS OF THE REPORTING PERIOD25

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Reporting period for which the report has been prepared: 1 January – 30 June 2017

1.1. BACKGROUND

Name AB Amber Grid (hereinafter referred to as Amber Grid or the
Company)
Legal form Public company
Registration date and register 25 June 2013, Register of Legal Entities
Business ID 303090867
Manager of the Register of Legal State Enterprise Centre of Registry
Entities
Authorised capital EUR 51,730,929.06
Registered office address Savanorių pr. 28, LT-03116 Vilnius
Telephone +370 5 236 0855
Fax +370 5 236 0850
Email address [email protected]
Website www.ambergrid.lt

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Mission of the Company: Ensure the effective development of the transmission system, secure a reliable gas transmission process, contribute actively to the development of an integrated European gas transmission system, and enable the development of a competitive gas market in order to safeguard the national strategic interests.

Vision of the Company: Create favourable conditions for the functioning of the regional gas market within an integrated European gas network by taking proactive measures and through cooperation with the gas transmission system operators across the region.

Amber Grid, the gas transmission system operator, is a company that plays an important role in safeguarding the national security of Lithuania. It is responsible for the transmission of natural gas, the operation and maintenance of gas pipelines, and for securing safe and reliable functioning and development of the gas transmission system. The Company's customers are large and medium-sized entities operating in the electricity and heat generation sectors, industrial enterprises, natural gas supply companies to which the natural gas transmission services are provided in the territory of Lithuania.

1.2. OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY

The Company provides the following services to system users, other operators and market participants:

  • Transmission of natural gas in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania;
  • Balancing of natural gas flows in the transmission system;
  • Administration of the funds intended to compensate for the costs of construction and fixed operating costs of the liquefied natural gas terminal (the 'LNG Terminal'), its infrastructure and the connector and the reasonable costs of the natural gas supply incurred by the supplier appointed in 2016.

1.2.1. TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS VIA GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINES

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND ITS DEVELOPMENT

The transmission system consists of the transmission pipelines, gas compression stations, gas distribution stations, gas metering stations, equipment for the gas pipelines' protection against corrosion, data transmission and communication systems and other assets of the system. The Lithuanian gas transmission system is connected to the gas transmission systems of the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Belarus and the Kaliningrad Region (Russian Federation) as well as the Klaipėda LNG Terminal. The length of the pipelines in operation totals 2,115 km, with the diameter varying between 100 to 1,220 mm. The design pressure of the larger part of the transmission system is 54 bar.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

In the first six months of 2017, Amber Grid has been involved in implementation of the following strategic gas transmission system infrastructure projects:

  • Gas Interconnection Poland-Lithuania (GIPL); and
  • Enhancement of Latvia-Lithuania interconnection.

These strategic infrastructure projects have been included in the European Union's (EU) Second List of Projects of Common Interest published on 18 November 2015, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) updated in 2017, and the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) 2017, Amber Grid's Ten-Year Network Development Plan (2016–2025) of the Natural Gas Transmission System Operator and the National Plan on the Implementation of Priority Projects on Electricity and Natural Gas Transmission Infrastructure approved by Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania No 746 of 22 July 2014 (the National Plan).

GAS INTERCONNECTION POLAND-LITHUANIA (GIPL)

The GIPL project has been recognised by the European Commission as a key infrastructure project securing the gas supply, being of significant importance for the energy security of the EU. Amber Grid is implementing the GIPL project jointly with GAZ-SYSTEM S. A., the Polish gas transmission system operator.

The objectives of the project are to:

  • Integrate the Baltic and Finnish gas markets into the common EU market for gas,
  • Diversify the gas supply sources,
  • Increase the security of gas supply.

Map 1. Project on the Gas Interconnection Poland-Lithuania (GIPL)

In January 2017 the Company and GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. jointly with the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA), issued amendments to the trilateral agreements on the EU financial support for GIPL preparatory and construction works ('Preparatory Works of the Gas Interconnection Poland-Lithuania Prior to Issue of Construction permits' and 'Construction of the Gas Interconnection Poland-Lithuania Including Additional Infrastructure') under CEF, the Connecting Europe Facility. The amendments were initiated when GAS-SYSTEM S.A. was faced with issues in the implementation of the GIPL project preparatory works and when it proposed making changes in the originally projected gas pipeline routing in the Polish territory. As a result, respective changes had to be introduced to the original GIPL project scope in the Republic of Poland and the project implementation timelines. The term of implementation of the project has been extended until 31 December 2021. The main gas pipeline 700 mm in diameter will connect compressor stations of both countries: Jauniūnai in Lithuania and Hołowczyce in Poland.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

As regards total length of the prospective gas pipeline, the presently planned route will be shorter than the previously planned route (up to 534 km), but there will be final clarity only upon a technical feasibility study on the Polish side.

Apart from the EU financial assistance to GIPL project, its construction works will be co-financed by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which will cover part of the infrastructure costs in Poland according to a cross-border cost allocation solution.

ENHANCEMENT OF LATVIA-LITHUANIA INTERCONNECTION

The aim of the project is to increase the capacity of the gas systems interconnection Latvia-Lithuania, ensuring safe and reliable natural gas supply, and achieving a more effective use of the infrastructure and better integration of the gas markets of the Baltic States (Map 2). The implementation of the project will also enable a better use of the Latvian Inčukalns underground gas storage facility.

Map 2. Enhancement of Latvia-Lithuania interconnection

The implementation of the project will result in the increased capacities of the Kiemėnai GMS in Lithuania and the construction of the requisite gas pipeline section in Latvia. The project is being implemented by AS Conexus Baltic Grid and Amber Grid.

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EUROPEAN UNION'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

On 30 May 2017, Amber Grid and Lithuanian Business Support Agency, a public entity, concluded an agreement on financial support for an investment project 'Acquisition of a mobile gas compressor for gas repumping'. The equipment is required for an efficient operation and management of the transmission system and for the reduction of gas emissions into the environment. 50 % of the costs of the implementation of the project will be financed by the EU.

OPERATION, RECONSTRUCTION AND MODERNISATION

Operation of transmission pipelines is governed by rules and regulations and strict compliance therewith must be ensured. Maintenance and repair works are performed on a regular basis in order to secure the reliability and safety of the transmission system.

In 2017, inner diagnostic works have been started on the Šakiai-Klaipėda gas transmision pipeline; correction of defects found in the Vilnius-Panevėžys-Riga gas pipeline and the gas pipeline to Kaliningrad is continued; and gas pipeline insulation repairs are continued.

Works carried out during the first six months of 2017:

  • Completed works of replacement of 17 closing equipment units and connection of 4 closing units to SCADA, a remote control system;
  • Continued upgrading of the Panevėžys gas compressor station;
  • Completed installation of 34 cathode stations with a remote measuring and control system (remote monitoring and control of pipe anti-corrosion protection equipment);
  • Improvement of the information technology infrastructure;
  • Procurement of works and equipment for other projects included in the Company's investment programme.

REGULATION OF NATURAL GAS PRICES

Prices for the natural gas transmission services are subject to regulation.

On 1 January 2017, the price ceilings for the natural gas transmission services, set for the Company for the entry1 and exit2 points of the transmission system (the entry-exit capacities allocation model is applied in Lithuania, in accordance with the EU requirements, since 2015) by the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices (NCC) in October 2016, took effect. The service price ceilings may be adjusted on an annual basis by decision of the NCC according to the procedures set out in the Methodology for the Setting of the State-Regulated Prices in the Natural Gas Sector.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

The prices for the natural gas transmission services, approved by the NCC at the end of autumn for the entry and exit points of the transmission system, took effect on 1 January 2017 as well. For more detailed information on the natural gas transmission service prices in effect since 1 January 2017, please visit the website of the Company: www.ambergrid.lt (section Transportation Services, subsection Tariffs/ Prices).

NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION QUANTITIES

During the first six months of 2017, the transmission system operated by the Company received, for transmission to the system users in Lithuania and other Baltic States, 8,283.3 GWh of natural gas from Belarus through the Kotlovka gas metering station and 4,702.7 GWh from the Klaipėda LNG Terminal, i. e. the LNG terminal supplied 36.1% of the quantity required by the said customers. 42 GWh of natural gas was transported to Lithuania from the Republic of Latvia.

In the same period of 2017, 12,834.1 GWh of natural gas was transported for Lithuanian customers up to the domestic exit point. Compared with the first six months of 2016 (12,281.4 GWh of natural gas), transmission volumes have increased 4.5%. 35 GWh of natural gas was transported from the transmission system to the Republic of Latvia, via the Kiemėnai GMS, during the reporting period (first 6 months of 2016: 235.6 GWh).

During the reporting period, 12,907.4 GWh of natural gas was transmitted to the Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation (first 6 months of 2016: 11,412.7 GWh).

As of 1 July 2017 the Company had 96 natural gas transmission service agreements with the users of the natural gas transmission system (natural gas customers, operators of the natural gas transmission system, importers, natural gas supply companies that supply the gas up to the customers' systems) including 63 system users using the transmission capacity during the reporting period. The Company had 3 natural gas balancing agreements concluded with market players that are engaged in the trade of natural gas in virtual trading point but do not transport the gas via the transmission system.

The structure of the natural gas sales (by transmission system users) at the domestic exit point is shown in Figure 1.

1 Points of interconnection of the Lithuanian transmission system with the Belarussian and Latvian systems and with the system of the Klaipėda LNG Terminal.

2 Points of interconnection of the Lithuanian transmission system with the systems of Latvia and the Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation and the domestic exit point (including the points of interconnection of the Lithuanian transmission system with the gas distribution systems or consumers' systems).

Figure 1. Natural gas sales in Lithuania, by the natural gas transmission system users, GWh, first 6 months of 2016 and first 6 months of 2017

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1.2.2. BALANCING OF THE NATURAL GAS FLOWS IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

Amber Grid is responsible for ensuring the balancing of the natural gas flows in the transmission system. The Company buys the balancing gas from a gas market participant that has caused a gas excess in the transmission system and sells the balancing gas to a participant that has caused a gas shortage in the system.

In the first 6 months of 2017, the Company purchased 0.014 GWh and sold 5.6 GWh of natural gas due to the imbalance resulting from the system users' actions, including 136.3 GWh of gas sold for the balancing of flows of natural gas transmission to the Kaliningrad Region.

The gas quantities in the pipelines of the Company's transmission system vary not only due to the balancing of the system users' and other gas market participants' flows but also due to the technical and technological features of the transmission system.

1.2.3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE LNG TERMINAL'S FUNDS

In accordance with the provisions of the Republic of Lithuania Law on the LNG Terminal and the relevant regulations, the Company collects, administers and pays out the LNG funds to the operator of the LNG Terminal and the designated supplier (LITGAS UAB). By decision of the NCC, part of the collected funds is earmarked for the payment for the administration costs incurred by the Company.

By its resolution No O3-369 of 17 November 2016, the NCC approved an additional natural gas supply security component of the natural gas transmission price applied to users of the natural gas system for the natural gas consumption capacities required for securing the meeting of their maximum daily demand for natural gas at delivery points. The approved value of the additional component were in effect from 1 January 2017. By resolution No O3E-145 of 15 May 2017, a new value of the component was approved and took effect on 1 July 2017.

1.3. LONG-TERM STRATEGY OF THE COMPANY

On 17 January 2017 the Board of the Company approved the corporate strategy for 2017-2022, with the strategic lines of development consistent with the strategies formulated by UAB EPSO-G, the majority shareholder: the development of regional operations and ensuring successful implementation of strategic projects, efficient operations, and creative and advanced organisation.

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1.4. EMPLOYEES

As of 30 June 2017 the Company employed 363 people. The employee turnover rate during first 6 months of 2017 was 2%.

Number of
employees,
Number of
employees,
30 June 2017 30 June 2016
Executives 5 5
Medium level managers 231 229
&
specialists
Workers 127 129
Total: 363 363

Table 1. Number of employees by employee groups, first 6 months of 2017

The average monthly pay at the Company is shown in Table 2, by employee groups.

Average monthly pay, Average monthly pay,
first 6 months of 2017, first 6 months of
EUR EUR3
2016,
Executives 6,309 5,714
Medium level
managers
& specialists
1,530 1,337
Workers 964 841
Total: 1,4024 1,222

Table 2. Average monthly pay by employee groups, first 6 months of 2017

In the first 6 months of 2017, 116 employees of the Company took part in training on professional and technical subjects, 109 employees were certified as energy specialists, and 181 employees took part in general/managerial training.

The Company has a collective agreement in place, the term of which expires on 31 December 2017. The collective agreement contains usual clauses on rights or responsibilities of the Company and the employees.

An Amber Grid's trade union was established in the Company on 23 June 2017.

3 The average monthly pay of the Company's management, medium level managers and specialists for the first 6 months of 2016 has been adjusted according to the structure of these staff groups in the first 6 months of 2017.

4 Changes in the average monthly pay of medium level managers, specialists and workers have occurred in the first 6 months of 2017 compared with the same period of 2016 due to a change in the policy of payment of the variable part of pay (VPP). VPP had been linked to the annual employee's performance assessment and its payment for 2016 took place not at the end of the year but after the annual interviews held at the beginning of 2017. Such VPP policy is applied to executives and managers since 2013.

1.5. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

The Company takes an active part in the Regional Gas Market Coordination Group (RGMCG) and maintains close cooperation ties with transmission system operators (TSO) of the East Baltic region. The RGMCG is formed of the representatives of the East Baltic countries' ministries for energy, regulators, natural gas transmission system operators, and operators of LNG terminals. The RGMCG is implementing an action plan on the development of regional gas market approved by the Baltic States' Prime Ministers in December 2016. For this purpose the RGMCG has established a number of working groups tasked with the formulation of the rules for the balancing and interoperability of the transmission systems and for the allocation of capacities and the development of a common transmission system pricing and the mechanism of wholesale trading and the operation of a regional gas exchange.

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In the first half of 2017 the Company took an active part in the said working groups, specifically, in the analyses of the common market trading model and the balancing model, the results of which will be presented in the RGMCG by the end of 2017.

On 1 July 2017, the Company and the Latvian and Estonian TSOs launched an implicit capacity allocation model in the cross-border interconnection points in the Baltic States. The implementation of the model in the Baltic States was approved by the national regulatory authorities in January 2017. The application of the model is a measure to integrate the Baltic gas markets in the transitional period in order to enhance the markets' competitiveness and to promote cross-border gas trading. It is projected that the regional market will start operating in 2020.

On 26 June 2017, the TSOs of the BEMIP (Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan) region published the Regional Gas Investment Plan containing an overview of the development of the regional gas market, regional initiatives and planned investment projects for a ten-year period (2017-2026).

The BEMIP Gas Regional Investment Plan covers seven countries and their TSOs: Energinet.dk (Denmark), Elering AS (Estonia), Gasum Oy (Finland), AS Conexus Baltic Grid (Latvia), AB Amber Grid (Lithuania), GAZ-SYSTEM S.A. (Poland), and Swedegas AB (Sweden).

The Company is a member of ENTSOG (www.entsog.eu) and the member of the Chamber of the Polish and Lithuanian Commerce Association.

1.6. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

In order to contribute to the global sustainable development process, Amber Grid works according to the highest standards of business ethics and social responsibility and adheres to the principles of the United Nations' Global Compact that deal with businesses' responsibility in the areas of human rights, employee rights, environmental protection and fighting corruption. The Company implements the social responsibility principles through consistent work along the following lines:

  • Socially responsible activities in the market: safe and reliable transmission of natural gas to the system's users, enabling the development of a competitive gas market, transparent collaboration with clients and suppliers in good faith, and zero tolerance to corruption;
  • Social responsibility in the employee relations: concern for the employees' health, welfare and motivation; development of professional competences of the employees;
  • Social responsibility in the environmental protection: continuous improvement of the Environmental Management System, reducing the negative impact of the Company's operations upon the environment, efficient use of material resources in the operations;

  • Social responsibility in public relations: development of various social initiatives and projects in local communities and on a national scale.

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For more information about the Company's activities in the environmental protection and other social responsibility areas, please see Amber Grid AB's Social Responsibility Report published on the Company's website: www.ambergrid.lt/en/about-us/ab-amber-grid-social-responsibility-policy.

2. FINANCIAL RESULTS

KEY INDICATORS OF THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

Table 3. Operating indicators of the Company

First 6 months First 6 months
of 2017 of 2016
Natural gas transportation volumes
Gas quantities transported to the internal exit point, GWh 12,834.2 12,281.4
Gas quantities transported to adjacent transmission systems5
,
12,942.4 11,648.3
GWh
Number of system users at period end 96 93
System being operated
Length of main gas pipelines, km 2,115 2,013
Number of gas distribution stations and gas metering stations 70 69

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KEY FINANCIAL INDICATORS OF THE COMPANY

Table 4. Financial indicators of the Company

First 6 months First 6 months
2017 2016
Financial results (EUR'000)
Revenues 32,617 33,904
EBITDA6 20,316 21,509
Profit before tax 12,844 13,267
Net profit 10,875 11,536
Net cash flows from operations 21,199 24,220
Investments 1,630 5,672
Financial debt 81,220 116,556
Net financial debt 81,211 109,795
Profitability ratios (%) First 6 months of First 6 months of
2017 2016
EBITDA margin 62.29 63.44
Gross profit margin 39.38 39.13
Net profit margin 33.34 34.03
Return on assets (ROA)7 2.99 2.89
Return on equity (ROE) 5.50 5.95
Liquidity indicators 30-06-2017 30-06-2016
Total liquidity ratio7 0.51 1.15
Quick ratio7 0.42 1.06
Capital structure ratios (%) 30-06-2017 30-06-2016
Equity / assets ratio7 55.06 50.15
Financial debt / equity ratio 42.14 60.26

5 Latvian and Kaliningrad Region (Russian Federation) gas transmission systems.

6 Earnings (loss) before tax + costs of financial activities – income from financial activities + depreciation and

amortisation costs + impairment loss + asset write-offs.

7 Calculated upon elimination of the assets/liabilities arising from the LNG terminal's funds.

Net financial debt / equity ratio 42.13 56.77
Market value indicators 30-06-2017 30-06-2016
Price / earnings ratio (P/E) 21.32 17.32
Earnings per share, EUR 0.06 0.06

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Financial statements of the Company for the first 6 months of 2017 include the results of UAB GET Baltic, the Company's subsidiary, presented by the equity method. In QIV of 2016, Amber Grid acquired from a Finnish company Gasum Oy 34% of the shares of UAB GET Baltic, becoming the sole shareholder of UAB GET Baltic. At present UAB GET Baltic is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

REVENUES

In the first 6 months of 2017, the Company's revenues totalled EUR 32,617 thousand, which is a 3.8% yearon-year decrease. Income from natural gas transmission services has decreased due to smaller ordered longterm capacities of entry to/exit from the gas transmission system. Revenues from the balancing of natural gas flows shrunk 16.5 % year-on-year due to smaller balancing volumes. Other revenues including income from administration of the LNG terminal funds etc. totalled EUR 207 thousand for the first 6 months of 2017.

Figure 2. Revenue structure, first 6 months of 2016 / first 6 months of 2017, EUR'000

Balancing revenues are earned from the:

  • balancing of the gas flows of the system users and other participants in the gas market involved in the transmission system balancing;
  • technological balancing of the transmission system resulting from the transmission system technology and the gas flow deviations (imbalance) arising for technical reasons.

The Company is obliged to administer the LNG Terminal funds under the law. For more information and disclosures about the calculation of the LNG terminal funds, see the Company's financial statements for the first 6 months of 2017.

COSTS

The Company's costs totalled EUR 19,616 thousand in the first 6 months of 2017 (3.7% less if compared with the same period of 2016).

Non-current asset depreciation and amortisation costs accounted for the largest part of the Company's costs: EUR 7,288 thousand or 37% of total costs, which is an 8.3% year-on-year decrease.

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Natural gas costs amounted to EUR 3,130 thousand (16% of total costs), which is a 21.9% year-on-year decrease due to lower demand for natural gas quantities for balancing needs. Payments to employees and social security costs totalled EUR 3,955 thousand (20% of total costs) and repair and maintenance costs amounted to EUR 3,041 thousand (16%) (Figure 3). The Company bought natural gas for process needs, for the balancing of gas flows of the system's users and other gas market participants taking part in the transmission system's balancing, and the technological balancing.

Figure 3. Cost structure, first 6 months of 2016 / first 6 months of 2017, EUR'000

OPERATING RESULTS

In the first 6 months of 2017, profit before tax totalled EUR 12,844 thousand (same period of 2016: EUR 13,267 thousand), and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were EUR 20,316 thousand (same period of 2016: EUR 21,509 thousand) (Figure 4).

Net profit of the Company for the first 6 months of 2017 was EUR 10,875 thousand (same period of 2016: EUR 11,536 thousand).

The decline in profitability as compared to the same period of previous year was mainly caused by the lower transmission service tariffs applicable during the period in question and the resulting decline in revenue.

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Figure 5. Profitability, first 6 months of 2016 / first 6 months of 2017, %

INVESTMENTS

During the first 6 months of 2017, EUR 1,630 thousand were invested in the transmission system development and modernisation, compared to EUR 5,672 thousand in the same period of 2016. In the said period of 2017, just EUR 76 thousand were invested in the new gas systems' construction projects, whereas investments into reconstruction and modernisation totalled EUR 1,554 thousand (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Investment structure, first 6 months of 2016 / first 6 months of 2017, EUR'000

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ASSETS

As of 30 June 2017, the Company's asset value was EUR 363,285 thousand. Non-current assets accounted for 94% and current assets for 6% of total assets of the Company.

The reduction of the amount of non-current assets in the reporting period was due to the investments being smaller than the depreciation. During the said period the value of current assets was halved (EUR 21,494 thousand) due to the reduction of cash balance including the LNG Terminal funds.

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

In the period January-June 2017, the value of the Company's equity decreased 5% due to payment of dividend and, as of the end of the reporting period, the equity was EUR 192,757 thousand.

Accounts payable and liabilities decreased 9.5% (by EUR 17,960 thousand) during the first 6 months of 2017 and totalled EUR 170,528 thousand as of the end of the reporting period. The decrease in accounts payable and liabilities resulted from the reduction of financial debts.

The Company's financial debt totalled EUR 81,220 thousand as of 30 June 2017 (a decrease by EUR 12,466 thousand during the reporting period). Financial debt to equity ratio was 42.1%.

CASH FLOWS

The net cash flows from operations of the Company totalled EUR 21,199 thousand in the first 6 months of 2017 (same period of 2016: EUR 24,220 thousand). EUR 4,753 thousand were used for the acquisition of noncurrent assets (same period of 2016: EUR 9,844 thousand) and EUR 20,892 thousand for payment of dividend (same period of 2016: EUR 12,778 thousand). EUR 3,170 thousand of EU assistance funds were received for the financing of investments during the first 6 months of 2017 (same period of 2016: EUR 34 thousand). In the reporting period the Company repaid EUR 16,444 thousand of its long-term loans.

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REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL EXPLANATIONS ABOUT THE DATA IN THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Other information is provided in the Notes to the Condensed Financial Reports of Amber Grid as of 30 June 2017.

OPERATING PLANS AND PROJECTIONS

It is projected that in 2017 the Company will transport to the Lithuanian system users, at the domestic exit point of the transmission system, approx. 22.9 TWh of natural gas, to the Republic of Latvia 0.04 TWh of natural gas, and by transit to the Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation: 242 TWh of natural gas. Approx. 40% of the natural gas quantities intended for the users in Lithuania and other Baltic States will be supplied from the Klaipėda LNG Terminal.

Amber Grid plans to continue participation in the EBTSO and RGMCG working groups tasked with the formulation of the harmonised balancing and system interoperability rules, setting the responsibilities of the gas transmission system operators and the Market Area Manager ('MAM'), and identify the necessary amendments to legal acts.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM

There have been no substantial changes in the information on risk management and the internal control system of the Company during the reporting period compared with the information provided in the Annual Report for 2016.

3. MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY

SHARE CAPITAL

According to Resolution of the General Meeting of Shareholders of AB Amber Grid held on 23 April 2015, the authorised capital of the Company registered in the Register of Legal Entities of the Republic of Lithuania as of 30 April 2015 amounts to EUR 51,730,929.06. It has been divided into 178,382,514 ordinary registered shares of EUR 0.29 par value. An ordinary registered share of EUR 0.29 par value grants its holder one vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders. All the shares are fully paid for.

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SHARES AND RIGHTS ATTACHED TO THEM

There are 178,382,514 shares in the Company that grant voting rights at the General Meeting of Shareholders. All the shareholders of Amber Grid have equal property and non-property rights. According to the Articles of Association of the Company, only the General Meeting of Shareholders has the right to make decisions on the issue of new shares and the purchase of own shares.

The Company is not aware of any mutual agreements of the shareholders due to which transfer of securities and/or the voting rights could be restricted. There are no restrictions of voting rights in the Company.

The Company has not acquired its own shares and has concluded no transactions on the acquisition/disposal of own shares in the first 6 months of 2017.

SHAREHOLDERS

There have been no changes in the Company's shareholding structure during the first 6 months of 2017. UAB EPSO-G retained the controlling block of shares (96.58%), remaining the only shareholder controlling more than 5% of the Company's shares.

As shares of Amber Grid are traded on the stock exchange, the number of shareholders of Amber Grid is changing all the time. Based on the information received from the securities brokers, over 2,300 of Lithuanian and foreign natural and legal persons were shareholders of the Company as of 30 June 2017.

Shareholder Registered office/business ID Number of the shares owned
UAB EPSO-G A. Juozapavičiaus g. 13 Vilnius, Lithuania/
302826889
172,279,125
Minority shareholders 6,103,389
Total: 178,382,514

Table 5. Shareholders of the Company (30 June 2017)

The shareholding structure of the Company is shown in Figure 7:

UAB EPSO-G, the majority shareholder controlling 96.58% of the shares, has the decisive vote in the passing of resolutions at the General Meeting of Shareholders.

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DATA ON SECURITIES TRADING IN REGULATED MARKETS

Since 1 August 2013, the shares of the Company are traded in a regulated market and listed on the NASDAQ Vilnius Baltic Additional Trading List.

Main information on Amber Grid shares
ISIN
LT0000128696
Symbol AMG1L
Issue size (number) 178,382,514

Table 6. Main information on Amber Grid shares

The turnover of trading in the Company's shares amounted to EUR 840,000 in the first six months of 2017, with a total of 636,010 shares transferred under the transactions.

The dynamics of prices for the Company's shares is presented in Table 7 and data on the share prices and turnover (January-June 2017) is presented in Figure 8.

Table 7. Share price dynamics on NASDAQ Vilnius, January-June 2017
-------------------------------------------------------------------- --
Opening price, Maximum price Minimum price Weighted average Closing price, EUR
EUR per share, EUR per share, EUR price per share, 30-06-2017
01-01-2017 25-04-2017 10-01-2017 EUR
1.24 1.43 1.21 1.321 1.30

As of 30 June 2017, capitalisation of Amber Grid's shares amounted to EUR 231.9 million.

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During the period January-June 2017, NASDAQ OMX's comparative price indexes OMX Baltic PI and OMXV reflecting changes in the prices for the shares of companies listed on the securities exchanges of the Baltic States and Vilnius, have increased 5.16% and 6.91% respectively. The price for the Company's shares has increased 4.84% in the same period. The prices of the Company's shares and the changes in OMX Vilnius and OMX Baltic PI (January-June 2017) are shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9. Amber Grid share prices and dynamics of OMX Vilnius and OMX Baltic PI, January-June 2017

DIVIDEND

The General Meeting of Shareholders held on 25 April 2017 resolved to pay the dividend. The dividend totals EUR 20,928,070 or EUR 0.11732131 per share.

AGREEMENTS WITH SECURITIES BROKERS

Amber Grid has an agreement with AB SEB bankas on the accounting for the securities issued by the Company and the provision of securities-related services.

On 15 May 2015, the Company concluded an agreement with AB SEB bankas on the payment/allocation of dividend to minority shareholders. Under this agreement, AB SEB determines and pays dividend to all shareholders of the Company except the majority shareholder UAB EPSO-G.

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Details of AB SEB bankas
Business ID 112021238
Registered office address Gedimino pr. 12, Vilnius, Lithuania
Telephone +370 5 268 2800, 1518
Email [email protected]
Website www.seb.lt

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

The Company operates in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Companies, Law on Securities, other Lithuanian legal acts and the Articles of Association of the Company. The remit of the General Meeting of Shareholders and the rights of shareholders are defined in the Law on Companies and the Articles of Association of the Company. The Articles of Association are published on the Company's website: www.ambergrid.lt/lt/apie\_mus/rubrika-investuotojams/istatai.

Management bodies of the Company according to the Articles of Association:

  • the Board, and
  • the CEO the General Manager.

According to the Articles of Association, the Company's Board consists of 5 (five) members elected for the term of office of 4 (four) years according to a procedure established by the Law on Companies. The principle of proper representation of the rights of all shareholders must be followed in the election of the Board Members. Therefore, in proposing candidates to the Board Members, at least 2 (two) candidates should be from management of the parent company, at least 2 (two) candidates from the Company's management, and at least 1 (one) candidate must be an independent candidate as determined according to the criteria set out in the Governance Code and applicable legal acts. Any shareholder of the Company has the right to put up a candidate for the independent member of the Board. The Board Members elect the chairman of the Board from among themselves. The members of the Board may be re-elected for the next term of office. A Board Member may remain in the office for not more than 2 (two) full terms in succession. The powers of the members of the Board and the remit of the Head of the Company are defined in the Law on Companies and in the Company's Articles of Association.

The remit of the Board is in line with the remit of the board established in the Law on Companies, however, according to the Articles of Association, the Board has the following additional powers:

  • The Board considers and approves the Company's strategy, operating plan, and report on the implementation of the operating plan, annual budget and annual operating targets, sponsorship and charity provision procedures, list of essential terms and conditions of transactions, procedure for the conclusion of transactions to be approved by the Board, list of information deemed to be a trade/industrial secret of the Company and confidential information and the principles of use/storage of such information in the Company, job description for the General Manager and his/her salary, annual targets and other terms and conditions of an employment contract; the Board incentivises and imposes sanctions on the General Manager; common documents of the Group of Companies as defined in the Articles of Association (guidelines, policies, codes etc.) and the scope of application thereof to the Company; decisions on the issue of bonds (excluding convertible bonds); decisions on formation and termination of the Company's branches and representative offices and on approval of and amendments to their regulations as well as appointment and recall of their heads; participation of the Company in any association or another amalgamation of legal entities; decisions on the Company's acting as a founder or member of another legal entity; decisions on the increase/decrease in the number of shares/interests or another change in the rights attached to the shares/interests; approves the main terms and conditions of share agreements; decisions on the transfer of companies controlled by the company and/or the Company's associated companies as an asset, or a material part thereof, in the cases where the book value of the asset transferred is equal to or smaller than 1/20 of the authorised capital;

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  • The Board sets the gas transmission prices and prices for other services regulated by the State, as well the price setting methodology,
  • The Board approves the standard terms and conditions of agreements directly related to the TSO's activities such as agreements on connection to the gas system; on the natural gas transmission service; on natural gas balancing, and decides on the conclusion of such transactions in deviation from the approved terms and conditions;
  • The Board decides on the purchase on goods, services or works for an amount exceeding EUR 2,000,000, and where the acquisition is from the only supplier - for an amount exceeding EUR 1,000,000, on the purchase on goods, services or works from controlled or associated companies for an amount exceeding EUR 1,000,000 except for cases where goods listed on an exchange are being purchased for process or balancing needs; and on the purchase on goods, services or works from the parent company – irrespective of the amount; on the use of any asset valued at over EUR 2,000,000 for the purposes of investment, transfer, lease, mortgage or pledge; on standing surety or guaranteeing the fulfilment of third party's obligations exceeding EUR 2,000,000; on borrowing of funds if the amount to be borrowed exceeds EUR 2,000,000, and on lending of funds; on conclusion of agreements of lawsuit or withdrawal of a claim (counter-claim, complaint) or taking of an equivalent procedural action whereby a dispute is effectively ended, in judicial/arbitration proceedings in which the Company has filed a claim or a claim has been filed against the Company in the amount exceeding EUR 1,000,000; also decisions on the filing of a claim (counter-claim, complaint) which initiates a dispute with a national price-regulating authority irrespective of the value, on non-imposition of contractual penalties and/or other contractual sanctions on the Company's counterparties provided that the amount of the penalty or another sanction exceeds EUR 100,000; decisions on the launching of activities of new type or termination of any specific activity, entering into gas transportation agreements with third (non-EU) countries, any other agreements/transactions the value of which exceeds EUR 1,000,000 if no funds have been allocated for them in the annual budget of the Company, and agreements with the Company's shareholder/shareholders owning more than 1 % of the Company's shares.

According to the Company's Articles of Association, the following decisions of the Board require a consent of the General Meeting of Shareholders:

  • Assignment, pledging or other encumbrance of the shares/interests in the Company or the rights attached to them, or any other rights of a member in a legal entity;
  • Transfer of a company controlled by the Company and/or associated with the Company, as an asset, or any material part thereof, if the book value of the asset transferred exceeds 1/20 of the Company's authorised capital;
  • Assignment, mortgage, changing the legal status, other encumbrance or disposal of any facility or installation owned by the Company of a special strategic importance for national security as defined in the Republic of Lithuania Law on Enterprises and Facilities of Strategic Importance for National Security and Other Enterprises Important for Ensuring National Security and related legal acts, if the value of the facility/installation exceeds 1/20 of the authorised capital of the Company;
  • Encumbrance of the shares in directly or indirectly controlled companies that own the facilities referred to above or which develop, control, use or dispose of such facilities on any grounds, or of the voting rights attached to them; increase or decrease of the authorised capital of such companies or other actions that may change the structure of the authorised capital of the company (i. e. issue

of convertible bonds) and decisions on reorganisation, separation, restructuring, liquidation, transformation of such companies or other actions that may change their legal status;

  • Investment, transfer, lease (determined for each type of transaction), pledge or mortgage (determined as the sum of transactions) of a non-current asset of the Company the book value of which exceeds 1/5 of the Company's authorised capital;

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  • Standing surety for or guaranteeing the discharge of third parties' obligations the value of which exceeds 1/5 of the Company's authorised capital;
  • Acquisition of non-current assets at a price which exceeds 1/5 of the Company's authorised capital in the implementation of projects of extraordinary national significance and/or economic projects important for the State as defined in the current legislation.

Apart from the remit established by law and the additional powers set out above, the General Meeting of Shareholders has the right, according to the Articles of Association, to decide on the appointment of a Board Member, setting of the ceiling for the annual remuneration budget for the Board Members and remuneration to specific Board Members, conclusion of agreements with the Board Members on activities in the Board, setting the standard terms and conditions thereof, and appointment of a person authorised to sign such agreements on behalf of the Company.

Information on Amber Grid's Board Members, the General Manager and the Chief Accountant is provided in Table 8 below.

Position Name Start of term of End of term of Participation in the Issuer's
office office capital
Share of Share of
authorised votes held, %
capital held, %
Chairperson Nemunas April 2016 April 2020 0.001055 0.001055
of the Board Biknius
Board Member Saulius Bilys April 2016 April 2020
Independent Nerijus April 2016 April 2020
Board Member Datkūnas
Board Member Vytautas Ruolia April 2016 April 2020
Board Member Rimvydas April 2016 April 2020
Štilinis
General Saulius June 2013
Manager Bilys
Chief Dzintra June 2013
Accountant Tamulienė

Table 8. Information on Board Members, General Manager and Chief Accountant

During the reporting period the gross remuneration for the Independent Board Member amounted to EUR 6,000.

During the reporting period the gross pay for the Company's CEO and the Chief Accountant totalled EUR 92,209 the average gross pay per person (CEO and Chief Accountant) was EUR 46,105.

The functions of Audit Committee of AB Amber Grid are performed by the Audit Committee of the parent company UAB EPSO-G.

The Company has no branches and representative offices.

INFORMATION ON RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS, MATERIAL TRANSACTIONS AND DETRIMENTAL TRANSACTIONS

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At the meeting of the Board of the Company's parent company UAB EPSO-G held on 14 July 2017, the Dividend Determination, Declaration and Payment Policies applicable to all companies of the Group were approved.

4. MATERIAL EVENTS OF THE REPORTING PERIOD

In the fulfilment of its obligations under the applicable laws governing the securities market, the Company publishes material events and other regulated information EU-wide. Information published by the Company can be found on the Company's website (www.ambergrid.lt/lt/apie_mus/rubrika-investuotojams/esminiaiivykiai) and on the website of AB NASDAQ Vilnius ((www.nasdaqbaltic.com).

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Material events in the first six months of 2017 are as follows:

Date Material events in the reporting period
18-01-2017 Introduction of amendments to agreements on the European Union's financial assistance
to preparatory works and construction works of the Gas Interconnection Poland-Lithuania
(GIPL) project
23-02-2017 AB Amber Grid operating results and unaudited condensed financial statements for the
year 2016
23-02-2017 Correction: AB Amber Grid
operating results and unaudited condensed financial
statements for the year 2016
07-03-2017 EPSO-G Group's Strategy: Strategic Projects, Regional Development and Efficiency
24-03-2017 On Convening and Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of AB Amber Grid
03-04-2017 Notice on Convening an Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of AB Amber Grid
05-04-2017 The Supervisory Board of UAB EPSO-G presented its response and proposals to the Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders of AB Amber Grid
25-04-2017 On Convening an Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of AB Amber Grid
25-04-2017 Annual information of AB Amber Grid for 2016
09-05-2017 Notice on Convening an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of AB Amber Grid
25-05-2017 AB Amber Grid operating results and unaudited condensed financial statements for the 1st
quarter of 2017
31-05-2017 On decisions of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of AB Amber Grid

All public notices that are to be published in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law are published in the electronic bulletin of the Manager of the Register of Legal Entities. Notices of convention of the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company as well as other material events are published in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Republic of Lithuania Law on Securities in the Central Database of Regulated Information www.crib.lt and the Company's website www.ambergrid.lt. Notices of the General Meetings of Shareholders are sent to shareholders whose shares entitle them to at least 10% of the votes in accordance with the procedure established in the Articles of Association of the Company.