Hera S p A : 2021 gold medal in S&P Global’s Sustainability Award

press release

Bologna, 8 February 2021

Hera 2021 gold medal in S&P Global's Sustainability Award

The Group has received Gold Class status for ranking as "Industry leader" in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, one of the world's most authoritative stock market indices assessing ESG factors. Hera also given special mention as "Industry mover"

The Hera Group has received a worldwide gold medal for social responsibility. S&P Global, indeed, has awarded the company its Gold Class 2021, the highest recognition reserved for companies included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), the authoritative international stock market index assessing the ESG factors of roughly 3,500 listed companied with the highest capitalisation globally.

This prestigious result was released today with the publication of the Sustainability Yearbook 2021, a report that contains the results of analyses carried out for gaining access to the index last year, and the names of companies that achieved the highest sustainability scores.

Following its inclusion in the FTSE MIB in 2019, Hera participated in the selection process for the DJSI and, in only 2 years, rapidly rose in the classification, being included in the World and European indices at the same time and ranking as "Industry leader", i.e. the best "Multi-utility and Water" in the world, with a score of 87/100, compared to a sector average coming to 45/100.

Compared to the other companies assessed by the DJSI, Hera stood out in particular for its environmental and economic sustainability, and its governance. The Sustainability Yearbook 2021 gives particular emphasis to the significant results achieved by Hera in the areas identified as most challenging for its sector, such as resource management and protection, the ability to grasp market opportunities and relations with stakeholders.

In addition to Gold Class status, Hera also received special mention as "Industry mover", that is, the company that recorded the most significant improvement, rising by no less than 19 points compared to the score of 68/100 in 2019.

These recognitions provide further confirmation of the valid sustainability strategy pursued by Hera, which represents its fundamental approach, substantiated once again by its Business plan to 2024, presented to investors 20 days ago. In the Plan, operating and financial results are expected to improve continuously, with a solid cash generation and ESG targets to 2030. The Plan foresees investments and initiatives for energy and environmental transition and technological evolution, in line with European strategies and the UN's 2030 Agenda. The most significant challenges include the field of renewable energies and pursuing carbon neutrality. In particular, Hera aims to achieve ambitious goals in reduction, following the criteria of the "Science Based Target initiative" especially as regards "Well below 2°C", (intended to limit the increase in the Earth's temperature to significantly under 2°C).

Among the numerous international recognitions going to the Group for its attention towards sustainability, also note Hera's inclusion in 2020 in the FTSE4Good Index Series, a set of ethical indices

conceived by FTSE Russell to encourage investments in companies that meet strict criteria in the area of ESG. Not by chance, attention towards ESG factors is an increasingly central issue for investors as well, and was included by Hera in its mission as of 2002, the year of its establishment.

https://eng.gruppohera.it/group/

JENS KLINT HANSEN

Head of Investor Relations

Ph.: + 39 051 287 737

e-mail:[e-mail]