Axpo excels in electricity production, distribution, trading and providing sustainable energy solutions.
LinkGroup management focusing on the international customer business
LinkThe Axpo Group achieved a gratifying result in the first half of the 2018/19 financial year. The good operating performance in the reporting period (1 October 2018 to 31 March 2019) was primarily attributable to higher electricity production, international activities and ongoing cost discipline. The planned takeover of French photovoltaic company Urbasolar means that Axpo is strengthening its exposure to renewable energies and will be obtaining a platform for further growth in the international solar business.
LinkAxpo is entering into the international solar business and, on 30 April 2019, signed a contract for the acquisition of the French photovoltaics company Urbasolar. In doing so, Axpo continues to consistently pursue a strategy for profitable growth in the international business. After successfully developing the wind business with the subsidiary Volkswind, Axpo intends to take advantage of synergies in the economically attractive photovoltaics market. Urbasolar will be managed as an independent company. The company will serve as a platform to expand the solar business in Europe.
LinkAxpo is consistently expanding its business activities in the area of tailored customer solutions. Having recently opened its own subsidiary in Lisbon in order to boost revenues from the Portuguese market, the company has also now expanded its presence in Madrid and Amsterdam.
LinkWorldwide recognition for Axpo: Number 1 nine times and once again the world's best power trading company in the annual survey conducted by the trade magazines "Risk" and "Energy Risk”. After achieving numerous top ranks in previous years, customers and business partners voted Axpo the number 1 in nine categories this year. The excellent feedback demonstrates that Axpo is the leader in many markets when it comes to customer needs such as local presence, speed and agility.
LinkAxpo will start its business activities in theUnited States in 2016. Effective January 1st 2016, Jeremy Wodakow, the previous Head of North America Gas & Power Origination and Structuring at Noble Americas based in Stamford CT, will take on the role of the Managing Director of Axpo U.S.. This appointment marks the beginning of the business activities of Axpo in the United States. So far, Axpo has been serving 35 European markets. By entering the U.S. market, the company aims at generating additional profits in the energy trading business.
LinkAxpo posted a strong operating result for the 2018/19 financial year. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) before one-off effects were up 56% to CHF 542 million, or CHF 850 million after one-off effects (previous year: CHF 348 million). Axpo raised the result for the period from CHF 131 million to CHF 865 million. The strategy of networking production, trading business and international customer business has paid off, even in a difficult market environment, with all Axpo Group business areas achieving pleasing operating results.
LinkAxpo achieved a strong result in the 2017/18 financial year, with both the operating result (CHF 348 million, +29%) and cash flow from operating activities (CHF 474 million, +171%) increasing substantially compared with the previous year. This is mainly due to the strong operating performance in international business and renewable energies. However, the result in the reporting year was again weighed down by Swiss electricity production. The rise in electricity prices since 2016 will have a delayed impact on the results.
LinkAxpo announced today that it will open an office in Singapore at the end of 2020 to strengthen the company’s presence in Asia’s fast-growing LNG market. Experienced en-ergy industry executive Sophie Ducoloner has been hired to head the new Axpo Singa-pore subsidiary as its Managing Director, effective 1st December 2020.
LinkThe Axpo Group achieved a solid half-year result in operational terms, increasing its operating cash flow by CHF 95 million year on year. Although operating profit (EBIT) was down by CHF 146 million at CHF 259 million, it must be borne in mind that, in the previous year, Axpo received a non-recurring compensation payment from Swissgrid for taking over the extra-high-voltage grid. Adjusting for this exceptional factor reveals that Axpo succeeded in keeping its operating result at the previous year’s level despite lower revenues from electricity sales. The Group’s rigorous implementation of a strategy geared towards strengthening cash flow and increasing value is paying off. The recommissioning of block 1 at the Beznau nuclear power plant in March 2018 is also helping to strengthen Axpo’s profitability.
LinkThe last 12 months have been dominated by a European energy crisis of historic proportions which has presented major challenges for the population, business and the energy sector. The Axpo Board of Directors commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to conduct an assessment that would allow external evaluation of its risk management as a whole, and in particular the processes that led to its precautionary application to the federal government for a credit facility. The PwC experts came to the conclusion that Axpo handled market risks appropriately and in accordance with industry standards over the last year, that the high requirement for liquidity in the wake of record prices was primarily a consequence of hedging Switzerland’s electricity supply, and that this was greatly reduced by the international customer and trading business.
LinkAxpo has received approval from the respective authorities for the definitive acquisition of the French photovoltaics company Urbasolar. The transaction will make Axpo an important market player in the development and construction of solar plants in France and Europe.
LinkAxpo tops the "Energy Risk" survey again
LinkAxpo once again received top marks from its customers and business partners in the annual survey conducted by the trade magazines “Risk” and “Energy Risk”: In the category power trading, the company defended its first place worldwide and, as in previous years, achieved numerous top rank-ings in many countries. Moreover, Axpo was very successful in the area of gas trading. The excel-lent results confirm that the continuous expansion of the international customer and trading busi-ness is bearing fruit and has been well received by customers and partners. There is strong cus-tomer demand in the area of Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). The long-term power supply and purchase agreements are developing into a mega-trend in the area of renewable energies.
LinkAxpo is further expanding its business in the field of long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) for renewable energies in the Nordic region: The company’s subsidiaries Axpo Nordic AS and Axpo Finland Oy have agreed to buy the full output generated by the 30 MW Kröpuln and the 30 MW Storbacken wind farms currently under construction in Finland’s Ostrobothnia region. After having signed several long-term PPAs in Sweden in the past months, this PPA is a major step for the company’s business in Finland.
LinkOur plan for delivering results that serve our purpose.
LinkAxpo is expanding its private customer business in Italy: In order to continue developing its customer base, Axpo Italia SpA has acquired a 5-per cent minority share in Alleanza 3.0 Luce e Gas SpA. This company is part of the largest cooperative belonging to the leading Italian retail chain Coop (Cooperativa di Consumatori), and is active in power and gas trading for private customers.
LinkAndrew Walo (56), who has been the Chief Executive Officer of Axpo Holding AG since 2014, has decided to leave Axpo by the end of the year at the latest in order to pursue new plans. The Board of Directors has initiated the succession process.
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