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Enel confident of cutting financial obligation in line with 2024 guidance

Italy's greatest utility Enel stated on Thursday its net debt would fall even more as a. results of a number of disposals currently signed or in the works,. enabling the company to fulfill its assistance for 2024.

The group is also confident it can increase its core profit. this year in line with the assistance suggested in November and. hinted at the possibility of raising its dividend.

Providing its results for last year, Enel stated its net. monetary debt at the end of December stood at 60.2 billion. euros from 60.7 billion euros at the end of 2022.

The ratio between net financial obligation and profits before interest,. taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was up to 2.7 last. year from 3.1.

Asset sales to be finished in the coming months are. expected to decrease net financial obligation by 6.3 billion euros and, together. with cost discipline, bring the ratio with EBITDA to the. group's goal of 2.4, Enel Chief Financial Officer Stefano De. Angelis stated.

Among offers waiting for final approval by all the relevant. authorities is the $2.9 billion sale of Enel's equity stakes in. 2 Peruvian possessions to China Southern Power Grid International. ( CSGI).

Enel Chief Executive Flavio Cattaneo said the conclusion of. the deal would likely come quickly.

All the most relevant authorisations have actually been released ... you will have not to wait on long for an announcement,. Cattaneo said, speaking with analysts.

CORE PROFIT INCREASES

The CEO dismissed the payment of a special dividend linked. to a recent sale of circulation assets in Italy, however said the. group might raise its dividend currently beginning with 2024 outcomes. after paying 0.43 euros per share this year.

Enel's core earnings increased 12% last year, just beating. analysts' expectations thanks to development at its retail company. in Italy where it gained from greater power production from. renewable sources and contracts based on increased costs.

Common earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and. amortisation (EBITDA) came in at 22 billion euros ($ 23.9. billion) in 2023 compared with a quote of 21.8 billion euros. coming from experts pooled by LSEG.

Some analysts have expressed issues that European. utilities including Enel could suffer due to a fall in power. costs in Europe compared with last year, which could provide. consumers scope to switch to other suppliers.

The Enel CFO stated the group was not worried about power. price patterns and was likewise putting in place procedures to retain. customers.

(source: Reuters)