(Teleborsa) – Ferrovie dello Stato closes the first half of the year with the group's operating revenues up to 4,6 billion euros with an overall increase of 304 million euros (+7,2%), accompanied by the significant growth (+3,4%) of the Gross Operating Margin (EBITDA), a sign of the good operational resilience of the Group's businesses. In addition to the normal operational management process, corporate operations also contribute to the development of turnover, among which the acquisition of the English company c2c Ltd, which connects the city of London with the Essex region, and the expansion of the Busitalia group, both in terms of volumes and operations, through Busitalia Campania, operational since 1 January 2017, and the establishment of Busitalia Simet in long-distance road services (with the Busitalia Fast brand). All of the above in line with the modal integration and internationalization objectives envisaged in the 2017-2026 Group Business Plan.
In detail, revenues from transport services reached 3,4 billion euros (+266 million euros compared to the first half of 2016) with an overall and evenly spread growth in the various business segments. More precisely, the Long Haul passenger services contribute to the growth in turnover for 98 million euros while the Short Haul services for 21. This item also reflects the effects of the aforementioned corporate transactions for approximately 145 million euros, as well as the entry into the area of consolidation, starting from the end of November 2016, of Ferrovie del Sud Est.
Net income for the period shows a slight drop to 273 million euro. The drop in profits is due to the increase in depreciation to 44 million, indicative of the large investments made by the Group.
Operating costs, following the dynamics of the growth in turnover, amounted to 3,5 billion euros, recording an increase of 8,3%, compared to the same period of 2016.
"The results of the first half of 2017 were decisively driven by the strengthening of the offer on Freccia products", explains the note accompanying the accounts, with an increase in the volumes of the Frecciarossa brand, and the unfolding of the economic effects generated by the finalization of the Contract of public service 2017-2026, combined with the success deriving from the introduction of the new Regional Ticket. The increase in the offer of the Frecciarossa brand is linked to the continuous expansion of the fleet which is further enriched with another 7 new trains.
The Group's EBITDA increased to 1,04 billion euros (+34 million euros compared to the first half of 2016) with an EBITDA Margin of 22,82%. EBIT went from 344 million euros in the first half of 2016 to 339 million euros in the first half of 2017, recording a slight decrease of 5 million euros (-1,5%) and an EBIT Margin of 7,44 %, following the trend in depreciation which increased, in line with forecasts, by 44 million euro, against the significant investments planned and implemented.
Investments continue to represent a distinctive element of the Group which, together with the analysis of the new opportunities offered by the market in terms of integration, will enable the support of internal demand and employment, continuing to confirm their role as driving force behind the growth of the Italian economy. In this context, we recall the important step reached by the Group with the recent inauguration of the Napoli Afragola station, the so-called "Porta del Sud", designed with the aim of obtaining significant reductions in time in connections with Southern Italy, as well as the activation of the doubling between Cervaro and Bovino, the first section of the new Naples line? Bari.
The Group maintains a high level of financial solidity with equity which at 30 June 2017 is close to 38,4 billion euro, while the net financial position, which was affected in the period by a new, important placement of bonds for one billion euro , stands at 8,07 billion euros.
The total number of personnel rose from 70.180 to 71.581, mainly as a result of new hires and corporate acquisitions.
Once again, all operating segments contributed positively to the performance of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group in the first half of 2017. In particular the transport ? in which the leading company is Trenitalia followed by the Mercitalia and Busitalia groups, respectively in the freight and road transport business, and Netinera Deutschland, operating in Germany ? with a net result achieved in the period of 79 million euros, and of the infrastructure ? with Rete Ferroviaria Italiana as the first operating entity followed by Italferr in the engineering sector ? which sees the first half close with a profit of 169 million euro.
