After a successful 2018 financial year with a 19 per cent increase in turnover, earnings per share increased to CHF 0.27 per share. The portfolio reaches 476 MW.
aventron's net revenue increased by 19 percent to CHF 91.8 million (previous year CHF 77.1 million) in the 2018 financial year. The contributions in kind, which were brought in with the capital increase in 2018, and in particular the newly acquired plants in the wind sector in Germany and in the hydropower sector in Norway contributed to this growth. aventron was able to increase EBIT by 18 percent to CHF 28.2 million (23.9 million). Portfolio expansion, operational improvements and currency effects from the improved euro exchange rate led to a profit of CHF 10.2 (8.3) million. Earnings per share rose by 8.2 percent to CHF 0.27 per share in the 2018 financial year. This is despite the dilution caused by the newly issued shares from the 2018 capital increase. aventron thus once again underlines the earning power of its business model based on renewable energies.
Total assets increased to CHF 748.9 (686.9) million within the reporting period. At the end of 2018, the aventron Group had cash and cash equivalents of CHF 66.8 (39.4) million.
The portfolio comprised a consolidated total installed capacity of 476 (386) megawatts at the end of 2018. The Wind Power segment delivered 55.4 percent of net sales. 30.5 percent came from the photovoltaic segment and 14.1 % from the hydropower segment.
8.7 percent higher dividend proposed
The good result allows aventron to share its success with its shareholders. The Board of Directors is therefore proposing to the Annual General Meeting that the dividend be increased by 8.7 percent from the previous CHF 0.23 to a new CHF 0.25 per share. The Annual General Meeting of aventron AG will be held on 11 April 2019.
New composition of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of aventron AG continues to evolve. With the consolidation of aventron into the EBM Group, the representations on the aventron Board of Directors will be adjusted along the management structures of the controlling majority. Cédric Christmann (Chairman of the Board of Directors), George Coelho and Werner Ulmer are no longer standing for election. Conrad Ammann, Daniel von Moltke and Nicolas Wyss will be proposed for election at the Annual General Meeting. Conrad Ammann will be proposed as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Beat Huber as Chairman of the Audit and Compensation Committee, subject to their election to the Board of Directors.
Expected turnover in 2019 to exceed 100 million Swiss francs for the first time
For the 2019 financial year, assuming average weather conditions and a stable euro exchange rate, the Executive Board expects sales to increase by around 11 per cent to approximately 102 million Swiss francs with a consistently high EBIT margin of over 30 per cent. With a view to the existing, solid project pipeline for the next 18 months, the company expects to achieve its target of a renewable energy portfolio of 600 megawatts by the end of 2020. As before, the portfolio will be balanced between wind, solar and hydro power in Switzerland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Norway.