EDF : 2018 half-year results, Confirmation of the 2018 rebound, 2018 targets for EBITDA and debt ratio upgraded

2018 half-year results
Confirmation of the 2018 rebound
2018 targets for EBITDA and debt ratio upgraded

EDF's Board of Directors meeting on 30 July 2018, under the chairmanship of Jean-Bernard Lévy, approved the condensed consolidated financial statements at 30 June 2018.

Jean-Bernard Lévy, EDF's Chairman and CEO, stated:
" The half-year results confirm the rebound announced for 2018, thanks to a solid operational performance and to the continuation of the cost reduction efforts. This rebound has been supported by favourable hydrological conditions. Through the combined efforts of all its employees, the Group is pursuing its transformation and the deployment of CAP 2030 strategy in the service of the energy transition."

Change in EDF group's half-year results

Change in EDF group's half-year EBITDA

The results of the first half of 2018 confirm the expected rebound in the Group's EBITDA this year. At €8.2 billion, EBITDA for the first half of 2018 was up 18.9% organically compared to the first half of 2017. This performance is mainly driven by the France - Generation and supply activities thanks to a sharp increase in nuclear and hydropower generation and improved price conditions on the wholesale markets. In addition, EDF Trading benefitted from a context of volatility in commodities markets and more favourable prices. Moreover, actions to optimise and reduce operating costs, mainly carried out in France, also contributed to this performance.

The financial result corresponds to a financial expense of €1,637 million, €649 million more than in the first half
of 2017. This is mainly due to the fact that the discount rate for nuclear provisions in France decreased by 10 basis points compared to 31 December 2017, whereas the rate was stable in the first half of 2017. In addition, significant capital gains from disposals of dedicated assets were recorded in the first half of 2017 (in application of IAS 39), whereas net changes in the fair value of debt and equity securities in the first half of 2018 had little effect, in line with the evolution of the markets over the half year^[14]. Moreover, the cost of gross financial debt continues to improve.

The Group's net income excluding non-recurring items stood at €1,739 million for the first half of 2018, an increase of 27% compared to the first half of 2017.

The Group's share of net income totalled €1,726 million in the first half of 2018, down compared to the first half
of 2017 (-13.9%), due primarily to the positive effect of the capital gain recorded for the sale of 49.9% of CTE^[15] that took place in the first half of 2017, without equivalent in 2018.

Net investments excluding Linky^[16], new developments^[17] and disposals amounted to €4,762 million, down €151 million from the first half of 2017. Linky investments and new developments amounted to €1,577 million, an increase
of €661 million, due to the acceleration of investments in the Linky program¹⁶ and the Hinkley point C project. In addition, no transaction was closed under the disposal plan during the first half of the year, whereas very significant disposals were recorded in the first half of 2017.

Operating cash flow amounted to €6,981 million in the first half of 2018 compared to €4,156 million in the first half
of 2017, an increase of €2,825 million. This change was mainly the result of the increase in EBITDA, the drop in the income taxes paid and a decrease in net financial expenses disbursed.

Group cash flow^[18] reached +€1,599 million, compared to +€1,482 million in the first half of 2017, when €4.3 billion in strategic disposals were made. This improvement was supported by both a favourable change in WCR and by the absence of a cash allocation to the dedicated assets.

The Group's net financial debt amounted to €31,275 million at 30 June 2018. It was €33,015 million at 31 December 2017. The ratio of net financial debt/EBITDA stood at 2.1x at 30 June 2018.

Main Group results by segment
France - Generation and supply activities 

Sales in France - Generation and supply activities in the first half of 2018 amounted to €13,652 million, up +4.6% in organic terms compared to the first half of 2017.

EBITDA recorded an organic increase of 45.9% compared to the first half of 2017 to reach €3,578 million.

Nuclear output amounted to 202.6TWh, an increase of 5.4TWh compared to the end of June 2017. This increase can be explained by the improved availability of the fleet at the beginning of the year compared to the first half of 2017, which was marked by several reactor outages linked to the manufacturing records of the Creusot plant and by the "carbon segregation" issue.

Hydropower output^[22] stood at 29.3TWh, up 37.6% (+8TWh) compared to the first half of 2017, thanks to exceptional hydro conditions. This represents the highest hydro output over a half year in the last fifteen years.

This increase in nuclear and hydropower output had a very favourable impact on EBITDA estimated at €544 million.

EBITDA also benefitted from the improvement in price conditions on the wholesale markets for an estimated total of €469 million. This change is related to purchases (in particular to cover ARENH requests) made at prices lower than those of the first half of 2017 and to sales made under more favourable price conditions.

The impact of the changes in regulated electricity sale tariffs^[23], excluding the Energy Saving Certificates component (whose impact on EBITDA is neutral) and the delivery components in the tariff "stacking" calculation, led to an estimated decrease of €79 million compared to the first half of 2017.

The weather effect had a positive impact of an estimated €67 million (+0.4TWh) compared to the first half of 2017.

Downstream market conditions^[24] had an impact of +€4 million compared to the first half of 2017. In fact, competitive intensity (-6.9TWh) was offset in the first half of 2018 by positive price effects on new market offers.

Under the EDF group's performance plan, operating expenses^[25] were brought down by €159 million compared to the first half of 2017 (-3.7%) through actions to optimise purchases and to control of payroll costs. These measures are being applied across all entities, notably through reductions in support costs and in cost-to-serve, and the optimisation of costs for the hydropower and thermal fleet.

France - Regulated activities^[26]

Sales in France - Regulated activities in the first half of 2018 amounted to €8,405 million, up +3.2% in organic terms compared to the first half of 2017.

EBITDA amounted to €2,663 million, up 11.0% in organic terms (+€263 million) compared to first half of 2017, driven by:

• The positive impact of the TURPE 5 indexation on 1 August 2017^[28] for an estimated total of €64 million
• Growth in volumes delivered in connection with the positive weather effect for an estimated
  €39 million
• Growth of the grid connection services activity (€47 million)
• The reduction in operating expenses excluding storms (+€37 million)
• Lower intensity of significant weather events, especially storms, and other diffuse effects (+€76 million)

Renewable energies

EDF Énergies Nouvelles

Sales in EDF Énergies Nouvelles in the first half of 2018 amounted to €735 million, up 9.2% in organic terms compared to the first half of 2017.

EBITDA amounted to €360 million, down 22.0% in organic terms compared to the first half of 2017.

EBITDA of generation recorded an organic increase of 10.7% to €435 million. This trend was driven by an output
of 7.9TWh in the first half of 2018, representing an organic growth of 14.8% (+€40 million), thanks to the projects commissioned in 2017.

The contribution of the Development and Sales of Structured Assets activities was down (-€98 million)³⁰.

Lastly, development costs rose by €38 million in particular to support growth projects.

The gross capacity commisionned service by EDF Énergies Nouvelles amounted to 0.7GW in the first half of 2018. The net capacities installed at the end of June 2018 were 8.1GW, an increase of 1.4GW compared to the end of June 2017. The gross portfolio of projects under construction at the end of June 2018 amounted to 1.7GW (0.7GW wind and 1GW solar).

Group Renewables^30,[31]

EBITDA for all of Group Renewables amounted to €1,106 million in the first half of 2018, up 20.6%. In addition to wind and solar generation, it benefitted from a sharp rise in hydro generation in France more than offsetting lower spot market prices. The commissioning and acquisitions of wind and solar power assets in 2017 had a significant positive effect at the end of June 2018.

Energy services

Dalkia

Sales in Dalkia in the first half of 2018 amounted to €2,009 million, up 6.6% in organic terms compared to the first half of 2017.

EBITDA amounted to €159 million, up 2.6% in organic terms compared to the first half of 2017. This trend was driven by the strengthening of competitiveness in connection with the operating performance plan, which generated €14 million in costs savings over the first half of 2018. The signing or renewal of numerous commercial contracts contributed to this dynamic, such as the creation of a heating network in Perpignan or the energy efficiency contract signed with the hospital of St-Etienne for fifteen years. On the other hand, activity was penalised by maintenance operations on several important installations.

Group Energy Services^[33]

EBITDA for Group Energy Services amounted to €214 million in the first half of 2018, up 2.9%. It benefited notably from the integration of Imtech in the United Kingdom in 2017 and from selective acquisitions in Italy and Belgium.

Framatome 

Sales in Framatome in the first half of 2018 amounted to €1,500 million. A significant share of sales was realised with other entities of the Group.

Framatome's contribution to Group EBITDA amounted to €86 million in the first half of 2018. Framatome standalone EBITDA amounted to €194 million (including the margin realised with other entities of the EDF group).

Framatome experienced sustained activity in the Fuel business and a slight slowdown in the Installed Base business, particularly in the United States.

With the acquisition of Schneider Electric's nuclear Instrumentation & Control (I&C) business in North America in February 2018, Framatome is developing its engineering expertise and expanding its portfolio of I&C solutions. Moreover, Framatome supplied a complete Instrumentation & Control system for the Tianwan No. 3 plant (VVER pressurised water reactor with a net installed capacity of 1,000MW).

The Components activity is gradualy recovering following the authorisation obtained from the ASN in January 2018 to resume forged parts manufacturing in the Creusot site.

In addition, EBITDA benefitted from reduction in operating and structure costs. It includes, for the first half of the year, a charge of €21 million in connection with the revaluation of inventories, carried out as part of Framatome's purchase price allocation.

United Kingdom 

In the United Kingdom, sales amounted to €4,605 million in the first half of 2018, up 4.8% in organic terms.

EBITDA amounted to €485 million, down 16.9% in organic terms compared to June 2017.

EBITDA was negatively affected by the decline in nuclear output and the decrease in nuclear realised prices compared to the first half of 2017. Nuclear output amounted to 30.2TWh, or -2.0TWh, compared to June 2017, mainly because of Hunterston B outage as well as Sizewell B outage extension which was reconnected to the grid on
31 January 2018.

The supply activities benefitted from increases in residential tariffs. On the other hand, the customer portfolio was down (-2% compared to the end of December 2017) in a highly competitive environment.

Italy 

In Italy, sales in the first half of 2018 reached €4,113 million, up 4.3% in organic terms from the first half of 2017. EBITDA recorded an organic decrease of 4.5% to €407 million.

In Electricity activities, EBITDA increased by €37 million compared to the first half of 2017, mainly due to the good performance of hydroelectric generation and the performance of the ancillary services.

EBITDA of Hydrocarbons activities was down €52 million organically compared to June 2017. Gas activities were penalised mainly by unfavourable price trends affecting the margin of long-term contracts due to the steady rise in the Brent price since 2016. In this context, the exploration-production activities benefited from positive price effects and higher volumes notably following the commissioning of a new field in Algeria.

Other international 

Sales in the Other international segment amounted to €1,147 million, down by 0.9% in organic terms compared to the first half of 2017. EBITDA recorded an organic decrease of 4.4% to €117 million.

In Belgium, EBITDA recorded an organic increase of 13% to €79 million. This change was driven notably by strong growth in EDF Luminus' renewable electricity generation, thanks to the increase in installed wind capacity and more favourable wind conditions than in the first half of 2017. Installed capacity amounted to 390.5MW at the end of June 2018, up 26.2% compared to the end of June 2017. However, the overall performance was affected by the extended outages at nuclear plants operated by the Engie Group, which negatively affected EBITDA by approximately €19 million. In addition, the drop in nuclear realised prices and the continued strong commercial competition had a negative impact.

Brazil's EBITDA (€34 million, or -36%) was negatively affected by the impact of planned maintenance operations that led to significant purchases on the market to cover the long-term supply contract in a bullish market environment.

Other activities

Sales in Other activities amounted to €1,284 million, up 3.2% in organic terms over the first half of 2017. EBITDA recorded an organic increase of 80.9% to reach €376 million.

EBITDA at EDF Trading amounted to €346 million in the first half of 2018, an organic increase of 86.1% compared to the first half of 2017. This change was driven by the return of volatility in commodities markets, good performance in the United States and favourable weather conditions in the first quarter of 2018. Activities related to LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) also contributed to this performance, which was driven by rising Asian demand and an upward price environment for oil.

Moreover, on 3 July 2018, EDF Trading and JERA announced the signing of binding agreements to form a common platform for the optimisation and trading of liquefied natural gas.

Main events^[1]
since the 2018 first quarter press release

Major Events

Group Renewables

EDF Énergies Nouvelles^[2]

• EDF Renewables sold a 49% minority stake in twenty-four of its wind farms in the United Kingdom (approximately 550MW) (see press release of 29 June 2018).
• EDF Énergies Nouvelles is accelerating its growth in renewable energies in France and announced that after exceeding its growth targets in 2017 in France, EDF Énergies Nouvelles is continuing its expansion in 2018 and working to contribute to EDF's Solar Plan (see press release of 6 June 2018).
• The completion of the three offshore wind projects at Fécamp, Courseulles-sur-Mer and Saint-Nazaire, which EDF Énergies Nouvelles is developing with its partners Enbridge Inc. and WPD, has been confirmed (see press release of 20 June 2018).

EDF Nouveaux Business

• EDF and McPhy have signed a partnership agreement for the development of carbon-free hydrogen in France and abroad (see press release of 5 June 2018).

Group Energy Services

• Edison, through its subsidiary Fenice, acquired control of Zephyro SpA. and launched a takeover bid (see press release of 2 July 2018).
• EDF launched two Skills (applications) on Alexa, the intelligent voice service from Amazon (see press release of 21 June 2018).
• EDF won a contract for the development of a sustainable neighbourhood in Moscow (see press release of 25 May 2018).

Nuclear industry

• Welds of the main secondary system of the Flamanville EPR: EDF set up corrective actions and adjusted the schedule and target construction costs (see press release 25 July 2018).
• Framatome announced the ramp-up of its operations at the Creusot Forge site (see press release of 18 July 2018).
• The Group clarified the safety and security of EDF's nuclear power plants in France (see press release of 5 July 2018).
• The Taishan 1 EPR was connected to the grid (see press release of 29 June 2018).
• EDF signed, at the World Nuclear Exhibition, a set of agreements securing the position of the nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management sector (see press release of 28 June 2018). These included:
  • EDF and Veolia signed a partnership agreement for the decommissioning of nuclear power plants and the treatment of radioactive waste (see press release of 26 June 2018).
  • EDF acquired Oreka Solutions, a start-up specializing in digital technology in support of nuclear decommissioning projects (see press release of 26 June 2018).
• EDF, Dassault Systèmes and Capgemini signed a partnership agreement for the digital transformation of EDF's nuclear engineering (see press release of 27 June 2018).
• EDF Nouveaux Business: EDF and GE signed a strategic cooperation agreement as part of the Industrial Way Forward signed in March 2018 with the Indian energy company NPCIL for the construction of 6 EPRs in India by NPCIL (see press release of 26 June 2018).

Disposal plan

• The EDF group entered into binding agreements for the sale of its stake in the capital of the LNG terminal of Dunkerque LNG (see press release of 12 July 2018)^[3].

Other significant events

• EDF announced the acceleration of the off-grid market in Africa by focusing on a new offer and local skills
  (see press release of 18 July 2018).
• EDF Trading and JERA announced the creation of a common optimisation and trading joint venture for LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) (see press release of 3 July 2018).
• EDF announced the results of the option for payment of the balance of the dividend to be paid out in new shares for the 2017 financial year: 93.39% of the rights were exercised in favour of a payment in shares following the option period which took place between 25 May 2018 and 11 June 2018 included. (see press release of 15 June 2018).
• EDF signed a global responsible employer agreement with IndustriALL and PSI (see press release of 29 May 2018).
• Mobilised in the fight against global warming, EDF committed to reducing its direct CO₂ emissions by 40% by 2030 and to pursuing the goal of achieving carbon neutrality of France by 2050 (see press release of 15 May 2018).
• EDF finalised the acquisition of 750MW of generation assets (gas and peak) to support the development of its renewable activities in Chile (see press release of 10 May 2018).

APPENDICES :
Consolidated income statement

(1)     The comparative figures at 30 June 2017 have been restated according to IFRS 15. For IFRS 9, applicable from 1 January 2018, the transition provisions do not require restatement and the comparative figures are therefore as previously published.

Consolidated balance sheet

(1)     The comparative figures at 31 December 2017 have been restated according to IFRS 15

1. The comparative figures at 31 December 2017 have been restated according to IFRS 15

Consolidated cash flow statement

(1)     In 2017, this item includes an amount of €1,282 million relating to the partial sale of the electricity transmission entity Coentreprise de Transport d'Électricité or CTE, the company that holds RTE's shares.
(2)     Contributions via capital increases or capital reductions and acquisitions of additional interests or disposals of interests in controlled companies.
In 2018, this item includes an amount of €797 million relating to the sale of 49% of EDF Renewables' wind farms , and a receipt of €361 million relating to CGN's payment for the NNB Holding Ltd. and Sizewell C Holding Co capital increases (€220 million at 30 June 2017).
A key player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated electricity company, active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading, energy services. A global leader in low-carbon energies, the Group has developed adiversified generation mix based on nuclear power, hydropower, new renewable energies and thermal energy. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 35.1 million customers, 26.5 million of which are in France. It generated consolidated sales of €70 billion in 2017. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

Disclaimer

This presentation does not constitute an offer to sell securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.
No reliance should be placed on the accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information or opinions contained in this presentation, and none of EDF representatives shall bear any liability for any loss arising from any use of this presentation or its contents. 
The present document may contain forward-looking statements and targets concerning the Group's strategy, financial position or results. EDF considers that these forward-looking statements and targets are based on reasonable assumptions as of the present document publication, which can be however inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. There is no assurance that expected events will occur and that expected results will actually be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Group to differ materially from those contemplated in this document include in particular the successful implementation of EDF strategic, financial and operational initiatives based on its current business model as an integrated operator, changes in the competitive and regulatory framework of the energy markets, as well as risk and uncertainties relating to the Group's activities, its international scope, the climatic environment, the volatility of raw materials prices and currency exchange rates, technological changes, and changes in the economy.
Detailed information regarding these uncertainties and potential risks are available in the reference document (Document de référence) of EDF filed with the Autorité des marchés financiers on 15 March 2018, which is available on the AMF's website at www.amf-france.org and on EDF's website at www.edf.fr.
EDF does not undertake nor does it have any obligation to update forward-looking information contained in this presentation to reflect any unexpected events or circumstances arising after the date of this presentation.

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