The Group received the award from KPMG and Fineurop Soditic - XI edition, for the merger with Amga Udine.

The creation of a large multi-utility hub in Northern Italy, in a strategic sector such as that for public utilities: this was the reason why Hera was presented with the M&A Award last night in Milan, in connection with the initiative promoted by KPMG and Fineurop Soditic.
The award, which has reached the XI edition, is intended to advance the M&A culture as a management tool that companies can leverage to grow and to compete in global markets.

In particular, Hera received the award in the "Italy on Italy" category for its acquisition of Friuli-based AMGA. According to the Jury, Hera continues to pursue consolidation and value creation, positioning itself increasingly as a "multi-utility hub" in Northern Italy, capable of providing integrated multiservice solutions in local communities. In this sense, Hera's M&A experience - which is now part of the company's DNA - is an interesting model for the industry as a whole in Italy.

Since its inception, in 2002, Hera has been the first to combine a group of municipallty-owned companies (11, operating in Emilia-Romagna), giving life to a multi-utility. In the following 12 years it has undertaken a constant and balanced growth path, taking over around ten companies engaging in the same sectors and then expanding outside the region, in the Marche, in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

"We are very proud of receiving the M&A Award for the deal with AMGA Udine, as it is a clear example of the 22 business combinations that the Hera Group has carried out over the years. All our integration processes have followed a geographical proximity rationale, as operations are mainly based on grids (gas, water and electricity) and the closer the interconnectedness the greater the synergies", said Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group. "Following the mergers of Trieste and Gorizia - which were completed between 2013 and early 2014 - with AMGA Udine we executed a strategic deal which has allowed us to cover nearly all the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of the local activities. These activities are now managed in a coordinated manner by AcegasApsAmga, which operates also in Padua. In the Triveneto area, in particular, we expect to extract synergies of approximately €35 million over the 5-year horizon of the business plan, which is more than 20% of the overall EBITDA of the single companies before the merger".

During the event in Milan, awards were presented also to Meda, a Swedish multinational, in the "Foreign on Italy" category and Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, for the "Italy on Foreign" category. The Special "Finance for Growth" Award was bestowed on the Generali Group.
Over the years, the M&A Award has cast light on some of the most interesting corporate stories in Italy, including among others: Amplifon, Autogrill, Brembo, Campari, Enel, Fiat, Intesa Sanpaolo, Italcementi, Lottomatica, Luxottica, Prysmian, Recordati, Unicredit. Italian and multinational companies that established their footprint in international markets also thanks to acquisitions.

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