Good afternoon. This is the Chorus Call operator. Welcome, thank you for joining the Italgas Full Year 2025 Results Conference Call. As a reminder, all participants are in listen-only mode. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Should anyone need assistance during the conference call, they may signal an operator by pressing star 0 on their telephone. At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Ms. Anna Maria Scaglia, Head of Investor Relations of Italgas. Please go ahead, madam.
Hi. Good afternoon and good morning to everyone, and thank you for joining us. I'm here with our CEO, Paolo Gallo, and our CFO, Gianfranco Amoroso, who will be running us through the presentation. I now pass the floor to our CEO.
Good afternoon, everyone. It's a truly pleasure today to present to you the result of an historical year for Italgas. We are on page two. If you look what happened during 2025, you can understand that there has been an incredible year for the group. Strategy implementation, execution, value creation, in particular for our shareholders. Today we will go through the main achievement for that just to recall the major achievement we achieved in 2025. Let me start just recalling that on April 1st, we closed the acquisition of 2i Rete Gas well ahead of schedule. In only six months from signing, we completed one of the most strategic transaction in the European gas industry, positioning Italgas as the largest operator in Italy.
We were already the largest, also now in Europe. In June, we successfully launched and executed a EUR 1.02 billion capital increase with a 100% final subscription. This allowed us to strengthen our financial structure immediately, few months after the acquisition. A month later, on July 1st, we completed the integration of 2i Rete Gas into Italgas Reti, from organizational redesign to IT migration, without any significant problem from day one. Thanks to the extraordinary effort of all our people, both from Italgas and 2i Rete Gas. As you know, the antitrust oblige us to sell a number of redelivery point, more than 600,000. We completed last year, as of October, we received all the offer. The offer were only valid for less than 250 redelivery point.
As of today, March 2nd, the first package has been already closed, generating nearly EUR 110 million in terms of revenues. Finally, in October last year, we presented a new strategic plan, which reflect not only our enlarged perimeter, but also our record-high investment and a clear path and numbers regarding synergies and efficiency. In short, 2025 has been a year in which we reshaped completely our group to capture the full potential of the energy transition as well as digital transformation and consolidated our leadership at the European level. If we move on, just to give you the idea of the size of the group today, coupled with unparalleled expertise and innovation capability. We manage nearly 660,000 km of gas network in Italy and in Greece, with nearly 13 million customers.
We also serve more than 6.3 million, directly and indirectly, customer in the water sector. This makes our infrastructure footprint the largest by redelivery point and by far the most advanced in Europe. We operate more than 4,000 concession, reflecting our position, unique position in the different territories we operate. Our regulated asset base Combining gas distribution and water activity has reached nearly EUR 16 billion. And finally, the scale is not only about size, but is about capability and technology, and these reflect the strengths of our people, 6,500, that now works together as a one group, bringing the best of both Italgas and we legacy organization into a unified, innovation-driven platform. Let's move now into the slide four that shows the result.
Our operating performance was very strong in 2025, benefiting from the consolidation, mainly benefiting from the consolidation of 2i Rete Gas starting from April 1st. As you remember, last October, we raised our 2025 guidance. Even if we raise today, we are showing our results that are even better than the expected numbers that we showed to you in October at EBITDA, EBIT, and net debt level. Gas distribution revenue in Italy grew, thanks to the updated OpEx, recovering previous gap, benefiting from RAB grow, thanks to the investment that we made, and we will show you in a moment the level of investment that we reach in 2025. Thanks to these two element, we were able to offsetting even more the impact of the lower allowed WACC. To mention Greece and DESFA, because both of them show a good progress during the period.
We continue to deliver an OpEx reduction, as you can see, benefiting from the first contribution of the initial synergies from Duferco Gas integration. I think one number that is extremely significant is the level of synergies that we achieve in 2025 compared to 2023 cost. 14% of the overall synergies that we target were already achieved in 2025, only nine months, not even on the full year. In fact, if you look at the EBITDA margin, even in an enlarged perimeter, we were able to keep the same level of EBITDA margin that we experienced last year. EBIT recorded a robust nearly 14% increase, passing the EUR 1.2 billion. Net profit landed slightly above EUR 675 million, a record high level for the group.
On the debt side, the net financial debt increased significantly as a result of the acquisition of Duferco Gas, consolidation of their debt, partially offset by the capital increase. Nevertheless, we were able to be below what we expected and what we announced during the October guidance. The result of that is that we are going to propose at the next general assembly a dividend per share equal to EUR 0.4432, an increase of 13.3% compared to the DPS we paid in 2024. Let me just take a look that is on the next page at the efficiency to give you more color and flavor about what we have already achieved in 2024- 2025, in the nine months of 2025.
First of all, the integration is fully in line with our plan, is moving very fast, and we are fully confident that the target of EUR 2,050 million will be achieved. In fact, in nine months of 2025, we were able already to capture EUR 35 million of synergy. That represent, as I said before, 14% of the overall target. This is a very strong and fast start, and that's the reason why we are fully confident that the overall target will be reached in line and according to the profile time that we have showed to you last October. Let me just give you some flavor, especially about the last progress, the progress we made in the last quarter. We completed the replacement. If you remember, we mentioned that Duferco Gas has already some in place some traditional meters.
We completed the replacement of all the Duferco Gas traditional meter. We started to replace some of the gas reduction station with new digital ones. 50 former were already replaced. We make a decision to bring inside all the emergency response activity as well as the laboratory's testing activity for instrument calibration that Duferco Gas at the time was given to a third party. We renegotiate a number, a significant number of third-party contract in order to align all the KPIs, including the economic KPI, to our current contract, securing in that way, securing better terms and efficiency. As far as the corporate concern, in the nine months of 2025, we were able to close 24 offices.
Four of them were closed in the last quarter of 2025, as well as we were able to reduce the car fleet, optimizing the use of the cars for the operation. We renegotiated insurance policy. We renegotiated bank guarantee. Last but not least, we started to introduce digital and AI algorithm and in order to increase our productivity. Scheduling tools was already impacted by AI algorithm that we develop in our Digital Factory. We introduce generative AI solution to automate meter reading workflow, and we launch a number of AI agents to support IT ticketing issue re-resolution. Even in the first nine months, we were able to achieve a very ambitious target in term of synergies, as well as we were able already to start significantly AI implementation in our processes. It is just the beginning.
2026, as you can see by the bar chart, is going to be challenging, but is going to be extremely positive in term of synergies that will be achieved, and the bar chart reflects our real numbers. Let me move to still, some framework, regulatory updates, what happened in 2025. I think it's important to recall, we have already described in our conference call, but I want just to summarize them. First of all, in March, ARERA recovered the regulatory gaps for the period 2025, updating the allowed OpEx and the X-factor following the ruling of the Council of State. In addition, the RAB, the RAB deflator, if you remember, like we call it, was aligned to a different Italian indicator that is more coherent and predictable over the years.
Another important element was the decision to extend the current regulatory period until the end of 2027, while X-factor set at zero for both 2026 and 2027 recognized that the previous efficiency were already given back in full to the end user. The extension was part of the ruling confirming the proposal to introduce the ROSS, or if you want to call it, a TOTEX system for gas distribution in 2028. Finally, ARERA confirmed the allowed WACC for 2026 at 5.9% as the trigger mechanism was not activated. I think what is important to highlight, that is common to all of these events is that someone may say, "Oh, it's favorable to the gas distribution sector." That is not true at all. That is the resulting of a strict and diligent application of the current regulation.
While the decision to postpone the introduction of ROSS Gas DSO is totally understandable given the complexity and the peculiarity of the gas distribution sector. Just to complete the overview, I would like to talk about the Budget Law and the Energy Bill decrees and how it is impacting Italgas. Regarding the first one, the Budget Law that was issued at the beginning of 2026, I think it's extremely important the measure regarding biomethane. First of all, the Budget Law introduced mandatory grid connection for the new biomethane plants, establish new reverse flow regulation. Even more important, revise the cost-sharing between developers or producer of biomethane and the system. We switch from an 80/20 to 30/70 in case of connection cost and to 0/100 in term of metering.
The system is bearing the 70% of connection cost, 100% of the metering cost, and that will help, and we have already seen in term of number of requests arriving, will help the biomethane development. That is important considering that biomethane is a green gas, is locally produced, and is going to be a significant part of the solution of the energy transition. This measure represent a clear signal of the renewed commitment by the Italian government to biomethane because, as I said, biomethane is extremely important in the energy transition future. The Energy Decree includes measure aimed to reduce gas bill for industrial user, limiting gas price volatility, and narrowing the spread between the Italian PSV hub and the northern European TTF.
At the same time, introduce a temporary 2% increase for 2026 and 2027 of the IRAP tax rate for energy companies. From an Italgas perspective, while a temporary tax increase has a limited and clearly defined time horizon, decree, either Budget Law and Energy Bill Decree, ultimately reinforce the role of gas infrastructure in the transition, accelerates biomethane development. Support affordability for both industrial and domestic use. Now is the time to get into more details about the number of 2025. I will start from the revenues. As you all know, Duferco Gas was consolidated for nine months, and the full integration with Italgas Reti started on July 1st.
In fact, from July 1st, it is practically impossible to split the contribution of Duferco Gas and the previous Italgas Reti in term of revenues, but even more in term of cost and all the other lines. The representation just put together the contribution of Duferco Gas. That is the main contributor, but also the growth of the gas distribution, what we call the legacy of Italgas Reti and the Greece. If we look at the overall result, revenues were up nearly by 40% in the period, and the regulated gas distribution business in Italy increased by more than EUR 700 million, thanks to the Duferco Gas mainly, but also the investment we made last year in especially in on the. We will see the investment in a moment. Greece.
All the other components that I already mentioned about revaluation factor and allowed OpEx. This effect combine, compensate more than the declining regulatory WACC that represent an impact in respect to 2024 of nearly EUR 52 million. What is also important to notice is the twin 2025 also mark a turnaround year for the ESCO because the ESCO contributed to the majority of EUR 48 million. That is the last column that you see on the graph. The 2025 was also for the ESCO, a significant year in respect of 2024. If I look at the operational operating cost, the incremental cost in respect of last year is explained by majority by the Duferco Gas.
Of course, the second line is the ESCO. We recorded a significant increase in the revenue. We also recorded an increase on the cost, but the margin is significant because we passed the 15% EBITDA margin on the ESCO. On a like-for-like basis, operating costs declined by more than 5%, equal to more than EUR 30 million only in 2024, thanks to our focus on the operational efficiency, but mainly driven by the early integration of Duferco Gas and the early integration synergies ramp-up that I described before. There's been that have seen an acceleration, especially in the last two quarters of the years.
Coming now to EBITDA. I'm on slide 11. Adjusted EBITDA, you see, reports an increase by almost 40%.
The figure now reach EUR 1.883 billion, with a strong contribution coming from all the business. Having said that, gas distribution in Italy and Greece remains the main growth driver, supported by the consolidation of the new perimeter of Duferco Gas that has been added, while the recovery of the energy efficiency segment contributed to strengthen the overall performance. On top of that, EBITDA margin remained broadly unchanged despite the change in mix and the lower WACC, as described before, supported by strong operational execution and efficiency delivery. Now on slide 12, we have Adjusted EBITDA. You see a growth of about 46.9% compared to the previous year.
Now we can have an EBIT that reached for the first time in the group history, the record level of EUR 1.2 billion, largely driven by the EBITDA increase, only partially offset by higher D&A of about EUR 147 million. Regarding the D&A, the increase of D&A is mainly related to the consolidation of Duferco Energia. That includes, of course, the PPA effects and investment carried out in the previous period, partially offset by the well-known positive impact of the end of the Rome concession. Strong performance achieved is reflected in the EBIT/RAB ratio that exceed now 8.4% on an adjusted basis. On the adjusted net profit, I'm on slide 13.
Adjusted net profit after minorities reached EUR 674.5 million, with an increase of 33% versus last year. This was mainly driven by Duferco Gas acquisition contribution and by the solid operating performance. You see higher EBIT contribution for EBIT of EUR 385 million, partially offset by an increase of adjusted net financial expenses that now include, firstly, the cost of the debt related to the acquisition financing of Duferco Gas equity, so for the price paid. Secondly, the cost of Duferco Gas consolidated debt. Lastly, the interest charges related to the higher cost of new bond that had been issued during the year.
Going forward, there is a lower, marginally lower contribution coming from equity investments and higher adjusted taxes of EUR 103.6 million due to the higher taxable income and a tax rate of 28.4%, above last year level of 24.8% that in turn included the benefit of the patent box. If we exclude the patent box impact, tax rate is slightly higher, reflecting the different business mix of the company. Increase in minorities for EUR 3 million finally reflects the positive business performance.
As I told you before, I would like to go through also the technical investment we did in 2025 that reflects the full year for Italgas and the nine months for Duferco Gas. We passed the EUR 1.2 billion 10-year investment.
As you can see, that is fully in line with the guidance, but still is a significant number in respect of the previous year. It's up to nearly 36%. Development and repurposing activity reach and pass the EUR 700 million. While you can see the digitization continues to grow, that is thanks to two, let me say, trend. One is that we have completed in the previous Italgas Reti the digitization. Still there's something going on always, but we are seeing already the increase due to the starting of the investment that we are making on the Duferco Gas network. We will see this number going up also in the coming years.
On the other, that you see a significant increase in respect of last year, there is the investment, the impact of Duferco Gas on centralized CapEx, mainly linked to the IT system upgrade and the impact of the renewal of the car fleet. As you know, the long-term agreement on the car fleet is reflecting in the IFRS 16. Thermophysical investment, we laid down nearly 1,000 km, 40% of that in Greece. As I said before, we started to upgrade and digitize the legacy of Duferco Gas network. This investment effort continue to support our long-term strategic objective to make the full network, including Duferco Gas, now is the focus is on Duferco Gas network to make it fully digitized.
Our RAB at the end of 25 reached EUR 15.7 billion, an increase of more than 54% due to Duferco Gas consolidation, also due to the investment we made in the periods. Let me take a look before giving back the floor to Gianfranco for the final analysis. Let me take just a look about the ESG performance of the group. As you can see on a like for like and year for year basis, net energy consumption was reduced by 6% in respect of 2024. Scope 1 and 2 emission, supported primarily by lower gas leakage level, were down by 3.8%, despite we significantly increased the number of kilometers inspected. If you look at only our gas leakage rate is 0.05%.
You remember that when we started to measure the gas leakage rate was back in 2021, we were 0.1%. We reduced by 50% the gas leakage rate over four years' time. That is thanks to the Picarro technology application and our continuous effort to reduce the time of intervention when we find a leakage. We look at the social dimension of the ESG, to mention is the increase of number of training hours per employee.
We have already reached the target that we set last year for 2030, no, two years ago for 2030. Gender gap is still not at the 2030 level, but is moving toward the target, and I feel we are fully confident that we will reach the target as well as for a woman in role of responsibility. Finally, in term of governance and external recognition, our ESG rating remains strong across all the major benchmark. You can see below, all the benchmark in which we are evaluated are either at the same level of last year. In the majority of them, we are above what we have reached achieved last year.
Cash flow on page 16 is another record level data point, reaching now EUR 1.6 billion with a quite impressive EBITDA cash conversion of 86%. This important result is also due to the positive evolution of the net working capital in the year. This mainly related to the Superbonus impact, the residual one, and in addition, the new contract signed during the year, and some other component linked to the business seasonality of the gas distribution and some other also positive cash component paid by the regulator, by ARERA. This amount allowed us to entirely cover the net cash investment of EUR 1.1 billion, as well as the dividend paid in May of EUR 349 million, including the minorities.
If you take out from the picture the amounts linked to the acquisition, we can affirm that the level of the debt remained broadly flat. The two component linked to the acquisition are basically the EUR 4.1 billion for the price paid for the acquisition of Duferco Gas of EUR 2 billion and the net financial debt consolidated of EUR 3.1 billion, net of the capital increase proceeds of EUR 1.02 billion. Going to the net debt structure, you have more or less the same picture, but on an enlarged basis. The net debt at the year-end reached the amount of EUR 10.734 billion, with an increase of around EUR 4 billion compared to the previous exercise.
The average cost of debt is around 2% for 2025, and the structure is 80% fixed rate, 20% floating. You can appreciate also from the chart below that the floating component now include also some bank loans that has been executing during the year for some refinancing of certain maturities. On the right side, you have also the maturity profile starting from 2026 going forward that now have the contribution of the, let's say, legacy bonds of Duferco Gas in addition to our bonds issued.
Let me close, this presentation with page 18, and talking about shareholder returns. As we know, we have looked over the years to provide, to offer to our shareholders an attractive and visible return in term of dividends, coupled with the benefit from the growth that we were able to deliver throughout the years. In 2025, with the big acquisition of Duferco Gas demonstrate again the validity of this principle. Last, yesterday, board of director of Italgas decided to propose a DPS of EUR 0.432, equivalent to the 65% payout again. We confirm that principle, and once again, higher than the 5% annual increase floor that we declare in our policy. Just to remind you, we have never used in all the years the floor. We have been always above the floor.
If we look at the floor, at the increase of this year, the increase has been 13.3%. That is the result of the correction of the dividends we paid last year with the factor that is issued by the Borsa Italiana to take into account the increased capital. Let me make you two comments on that. Even if you look at the absolute number without correcting that, if you just take the dividends that we pay for share last year and the dividends that we are going to pay this year, the growth is still above 5%. It's 6.4%.
I would like to remind you that the more than 200 million shares that we issued last year were issued in June. These new shareholders or new share will take full benefit of the result of 2025, even though they've been issued only for six months. You can make the math and see which is the growth, the real growth. For the new shareholders that entered in June with the capital increase, you will see that is a very huge number. Again, I would like to thank you for being here at the presentation. We are now open for the question you may have on this presentation. Thank you.
Thank you. This is the Conference Operator. We will now begin the question and answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on their touch-tone telephone. To remove yourself from the question queue, please press star and two. Please pick up the receiver when asking questions. Anyone who has a question may press star and one at this time. The first question is from Alexandra Arsova, Equita. Please go ahead.
Hi. Good afternoon. Thank you for the comprehensive presentation. Three questions on my end. The first one is on the clarification on slide 5 on synergies you expect for 2026. As you mentioned, if the bar chart is represented correctly, I read it as at least EUR 100 million in synergies expected for last year... For next year. If you could confirm this and if this could lead actually to double-digit growth again in 2026 of both EBITDA and on the bottom line, so net income. The second one is on the regulatory framework on the concession for gas distribution in Italy. Also, in previous occasions, we spoke about the fact that the government was thinking of some changes to the concession framework.
How this, let's say, procedure is going on, and if you think that the current situation in the Middle East and the potential new energy crisis we may have, if this could move to the background, these potential changes to the framework? The last one again on gas tenders. If I remember correctly, few months ago, you mentioned that you submitted five proposal for five tenders, covering 600,000 redelivery points. Are you expecting the outcome? You already received some outcomes, so just a check on this. Thank you.
Okay. Regarding the synergies, I told you the bar chart is correct. You need to make a better, let me say, calculation because 2026, we expect to pass the 50% of the overall synergies. It's more than the EUR 100 million like you mentioned. We expect to be about 50% of the overall synergies. Make your math 250 divided by two. That is what we expect. Regarding what is going to happen for the EBITDA and the net income for 2026, you should be a little bit patient and wait for our plan, new strategic plan that will be presented in June, and by that time, we should release the guidance.
Eventually, we are discussing if we need, because it's going to be the end of June, maybe we can release the guidance probably with the first quarter result of 2026, by early May. That is what we think about. We will see, but we will not release a guidance before that time. Regarding the tenders, let me say that what we have seen in the last months of last year, a significant number of tenders coming up. There are, I don't know which one you are referring to, the one that you mentioned, but what we can tell you is that there has been a number of
couple of tenders that has been already closed and assigned to us, Torino Cinque and Biella. There are other fives that are under in the period of, let me say, results. They've been. We already submitted the offer. The offer has been evaluated. We are just waiting for the final word for which we expect all of five to be assigned to us. That is our expectation based on the results that were shown by the commission. Then there are another seven that should be that for which we expect to submit the offer between, let me say, May and September. That is based on the picture that we have today.
Overall, if you, if you look at the overall picture, we have seen a significant movement in the tenders, even without any change in the law. Hopefully, this movement will continue. We hopefully will see some other tenders coming up in 2026. Numbers are so five that will be assigned and that will be closed very soon. Another three, now is another seven that will see the submission of the offer. I think it's a, it's a number that is changing a little bit the picture of the tender, more promising for an acceleration on the tender itself, even without the change in the law.
Very clear. Thank you. Next question, please.
Next question is from Julius Nickelsen at Bank of America. Please go ahead.
Great. Thank you so much. Thanks for the presentation. Just two from my side. The first to follow up on what you just said on the tenders. Is it then fair to say with the five that are basically imminent and the seven that you expect that this is quite a bit better than what you expected at the strategic plan? Because if I look at that old chart there, 2026 still looks quite low, at least in those assumptions. The other one is just on the cost efficiencies, the 5.2% that you flagged. I assume a big part of them that is like in Italy, but could you also split out how the cost efficiencies in Greece and water are going? That would be quite useful. Thank you.
Okay. On the first one, I think the answer to you is that the tenders progress is probably slightly better than what we have planned last October. We were surprised by the number. Honestly, we were surprised by the number of tender coming up. If I have to say, the tenders are better than the plan. We may see some acceleration in respect of the tender that we will probably see in the next strategic plan. We will include in the next strategic plan. Probably, it will be the first time in which we see an acceleration and not a delay in the tender progress. Regarding cost efficiency. The cost efficiency, it is, I would probably say mainly for gas distribution.
There is, even it's a small contribution from Greece. Remember then the water, the consolidation perimeter is very limited. Even though we present the water sector as the overall, remember that in Acqualatina and Siciliacque, we don't consolidate the numbers. You don't see. We make saving also there in term of cost saving, no doubts about that, but you don't see that in our operating expenses because they are not in the perimeter of consolidation. Let me say, the cost saving on a like-for-like basis is coming from the gas distribution, mainly Italy, and also small contribution coming from Greece.
Great. Thank you so much.
Next question, please.
The next question is from James Brand, Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead.
Hi. Thank you for the presentation. I just have one question. That was around your expectations for anything coming up on the regulatory side. Obviously, there's the whole debate around TOTEX and, you know, when that comes in and what form. I think for you, that's the only thing that we're expecting this year. If that's the case, do you have any expectations for rough timing around that? If there are other things that we should be looking out for, what are they? Thank you very much.
As I told you, the regulator said that the TOTEX, the RAB system will took place in a simplified version starting from January 1st, 2028. We have not seen up to now any consultation document. We expect probably first consultation document to happen in the second half of the year. What I can tell you is that we are absolutely confident that the RAB system will help, will let us be more, even more flexible and be able to capture all the industrial opportunity we have to switch from CapEx to OpEx and vice versa. That today, we cannot do it because they are completely separated one to the other.
We are waiting to see consultation document to better understanding how the regulator would like to shape the RAB in that simplified version. As soon as the consultation document will be issued, we will report to you in a more detail what we think about the picture that the regulator will start to envisage.
Perfect. Thank you.
Thank you. Next question, please.
The next question is from Javier Suarez, Mediobanca. Please go ahead.
Hi, all, thank you for taking my questions. The first one is on the rationale for updating the market again with a business plan presentation in June. I think that your business plan presentation was by the end of October, so it's less than a year that you are going to update the business plan. I wanted to have your statement on the rationale for that. Is that linked to what you see as an acceleration on AI implementation and digital transformation of the company and therefore you are seeing that acceleration as something instrumental to update the market?
Also, I guess that the comment that you make, the acceleration on the gas and distribution tendering process would be another factor that explain that rationale for up-updating the market on the business plan so quickly. That would be the first question. The second question is on the government decision to increase IRAP taxation for the next two years. The question is that if you could consider as a fair assumption that from 2028 that additional taxation should be part of the new regulation given the real pre-taxes regulatory framework in Italy.
The third question, I'm interested to see your latest views on the operational improvement in Greece, how that operational improvement is comparing what you are doing with in Italy and also the evolution of the ESCO business that you are seeing as we speak. Thank you.
The first answer is very simple. If you remember, we always updated the strategic plan in June, considering that is a nice period in which we have time to share with our shareholders and stakeholders our view and the vision on the future. We are going back to this, let me say, habit, considering that If you remember, when last October we presented the strategic plan, it was also the time to present the nine months result, so it was a little bit a mix of the two. Our habit has been since the beginning, if you remember, since 2017, to present a strategic plan in June. We want to go back. The reason also, if you want another reason why, that is the main reason.
The other reason is that, by June, we will probably report a better, let me say, advance of the synergies, because at the time it will be more than one year. Therefore, we can say, "Okay, one year has passed by since the acquisition of 2i Rete Gas. We can mark the line and say where we are." The main reason is the first one. The second is, let me say, a collateral one, if you want, a byproduct one, if you want.
Still, the main reason is we want to go back to our habit to present our view and the vision of the future in June when there are no other, let me say, reports from us in term of result that will either make the result itself less interesting because everybody will look at the strategic plan or vice versa. We want to have a proper time in which strategic plan will be the only element, the only document that the analyst will consider. On the second one, I think, what if the taxation will continue or will be part of the new regulation? Always remember that when the regulator will recalculate the WACC, they have to assume a level of tax rate.
If IRAP will remain inside, there will be a different tax rate that will be used for the WACC. Honestly, I don't see that problem significantly. If we look at the EBITDA margin, I think that regarding Greece, I always told you that we have an ambition about Greece. Ambition is to bring Greece as close as possible to the Italian. Will never be as close because it does not have the economy or scale that we have in Italy. I can tell you that today, Greece is at 73.5% in respect to our 75% in terms of EBITDA margin. I think that is quite significant. Greece is closing the gap very quickly, and we are very happy about the operation.
I think that is... or last, on the ESCO side. You remember 2024 has been a terrible year for the ESCO. Remember that I told you and to the others that 2024 will be terrible, and it has been terrible, but that was the foundation for a new cycle of the energy efficiency. I think the numbers that we were able to achieve in 2025 is the starting point of a significant turnaround. If you look at the EBITDA contribution of the ESCO, we passed the 15% in 2025.
It's even though the absolute number has not, is not huge, but still it's an incredible turnaround that we were able to make in 12 months, 2024, and we have started to see the result in 2025. I'm extremely happy about such a result, demonstrating that there is a room for the energy efficiency. There is a room to do activity on the energy efficiency, maintaining a high profitability margin, above 15%, and that is not our goal. Our goal is to reach 18%. There's still room, there's still growth to be done, but we moved from 8%, less than 9% last year as an EBITDA margin to more than 50%.
The step forward, the increase has been significantly, and we are very happy about that.
Next question, please.
The next question is from, Christabel Kelly, UBS. Please go ahead.
Hi. Yeah, one question regarding Greece. This year, we're in the last year for the current regulatory period. When should we expect the 2027 allowed WACC to be confirmed, please?
I think. You are right. This year is the last year. We will see the next four years regulatory cycle. We will start discussion with the Greek regulator immediately after summertime when we are going to present the new development plan. I'm going back to the Mediobanca request. Why we, there is another reason why that I forget having the strategic plan in June is because the numbers will help us also to give the same investment plan to the regulator in Greece that is normally requested in the months of September. It's fully aligned with that. I forgot about that. We are going to present the new development plan to the Greek regulator as well as the tariff, as well as a proposal for the new WACC.
That, of course, will take into consideration all the difference in term of framework, in term of economic framework that we will have in Greece. We will start discussion, I imagine, around September time. Development plan, that is the investment plan that is important, as well as tariff, as well, of course, inside the tariff, the WACC proposal. By year-end, we should have approval of the investment plan, approval of the WACC, approval of the tariff for the next four years.
Next, please.
The next question is from Alberto de Antonio, BNP Paribas Exane. Please go ahead.
Hi, good afternoon, thank you so much for taking my questions. My first question will be a follow-up on Greece. Maybe if you could disclose a few additional numbers regarding revenues, CapEx and RAB by the end of fiscal year 2025. The second question will be a follow-up on tenders. You mentioned that there are five tenders to be assigned in the next few months. I was wondering how many of them of those are already managed by you? What will be the incremental RAB if you win all of them? Another question will be a follow-up on the TOTEX regulation. You have mentioned that you are expecting a simplified version of the ROSS-based regulation. This means a simplified version versus the regulation that ones have as Snam and Terna.
Finally, and I know that you don't bear any commodity risk, but I would like to know your views about the current situation regarding, gas supply in Italy and if you foresee any potential physical risk of not receiving enough gas to cope with demand in Italy due to the current geopolitical situation. Thank you so much.
I will give you some number about Greece. Revenues are around EUR 190 million. EBITDA, as I told you, is 73.5%, is about EUR 140 million. The RAB at the end of 2025 is EUR 910 million. We invested in 2025 around EUR 130 million. Those are the big picture of Greece. Regarding the tenders, I don't remember which was the question, so maybe you can help me. Can you repeat the question on the tender? I forgot. I just saw tenders, but-
Yeah. You mentioned that you have, like, five tenders to be assigned.
Yes.
I was wondering how many of them are you already managing, and if you finally receive the five tenders, what will be the incremental RAB that you will win from them?
Yeah. We are present in all of them. part of the... Let me say with the new assignment, we are already about 80% of them. Part of the new RAB will come from 20%, and we are talking about EUR 70 million of RAB. EUR 70 million, EUR 80 million of RAB. Third question, on the ROSS side. You know, it's always difficult to say. What I'm saying is what the regulator has said, that they want to apply a simplified ROSS base to few operators. Between the few among the few operators there is by definition Italgas. Except that, it's difficult to say any other words. You mentioned Terna and Snam, but they have been in the ROSS discussion since, I think at least a couple of years.
It's difficult to compare what is going to happen also because on their situation, they are the only one operator. There is no other one. Not only, but also the regulation is slightly different even at the beginning, so they had always to be, to receive approval for their investment plan while we don't have that situation. The ROSS will involve some sort of approval of investment plan combined with the cost. Today it's difficult to give you more details than we know. We can guess what is going to happen. What I told you already is that we think that the ROS will give us more freedom from an industrial perspective to do, in a, in a simplified word, make or buy, cost, OpEx or CapEx.
To me, that's an important flexibility elements that will improve our ability to be even more efficient because we can switch from one to another in a framework that contain both what is called slow money and fast money. The last question that is very general, let me say that we are facing in 2022 a very big crisis about what happened in Russia and the invasion of Russia, the invasion by the Russian of Ukraine and the crisis related event to the gas supply. I think we were able, thanks to the gas infrastructure managed by Snam and Eni, to manage that in a very effective way.
I think today, the situation may look critical, but I think, we have learned as a system how to react to such a situation for which I'm very confident that we will be able to manage also this situation.
Thank you.
Next question, please.
The next question is from Davide Candela, Intesa Sanpaolo. Please go ahead.
Hi, good afternoon, gentlemen. Thank you for taking my question and for the presentation. I have two. The first one is regarding the WACC regulated in Italy. If you provide, if you can provide us your latest assessment of the mark-to-market basis for 2027 WACC. Within that, if you can update us regarding the potential talks still on the formula regarding the fact that for the calculation of the country's premium, you have the spread in between Italy and AA rating and in which France is not there anymore. An update on that and if there will be updates from the watchdog in the next months. Second question as regards the ESCO, but on the working capital you built after the Superbonus.
If you just, recall us how much of the receipts you are yet to be collected, after 2025. Thank you.
On the first question is, I mean, the observation period started October. October, November, December, January, and February, five months. Five out of 12. Well, if you go to any, I think, Bloomberg or other stuff like that, you can have the mark to market. It is significant. It may give you some idea. Yes and no, because in the next seven months, everything can change. Honestly, I don't even know which is the mark to market, I will tell you very frankly. I think it's not relevant today to look at the mark to market today also because in this day there is a lot of fluctuation.
Regarding the country premium, the discussion about which are the countries that has to be included in a panel in order to make the comparison, I think we are still at what we said that, and I think it has been already used, France should not be included. Remember that last year discussion is that the change from the country risk premium happened during France, after the observation period, honestly. They have applied strictly the rule. Applying strictly the rule, we expect that this time France will not be part of the panel anymore. It's not a country that has the rating to be included in the panel. That is our interpretation.
Was applied last year correctly because what happened in France was after September 30, and therefore should not have been used, for which they have included France in the panel. Next time, France should not be in the panel because they don't have the characteristic to be included in the panel. I mean, I think that is what is going to happen. Seven months from now, well, many things may change. Honestly, I think it is too early to say what may happen to the WACC.
On the tax credit for the energy efficiency, you know, we have in front of us a couple of years. 2026 and 2027, in which we will have the benefit of the receivable generated in the past years. 2022, 2023, and in addition, the new one, 2024 and 2025. The amount will average around EUR 160 million and EUR 130 million. Afterwards, there will be a significant scale down because for the time being, we do not have any other receivable, provided that there will be maybe some further receivable, some other projects coming this year and next year. The picture now is the one that I provided to you.
The next question is from Ella Walker- Hunt Citi. Please go ahead.
Hi. Just one quick question from me, if that's okay. I was wondering, do you think there is a risk that the 2% extra IRAP tax could be extended past 2027?
Well, we don't see that risk. I mean, the law is what it says. The law can be changed, but we don't see that risk right now. As I told you, the way in which we have, the work is calculated should consider that difference in tax rate sooner or later.
Next question, please.
The next question is from Tommaso Marabini at Banca Akros. Please go ahead.
Hello, good afternoon. I wanted to ask you two questions. One is related to the tax rate that you see for the years 2026 to 2028, considering the 2% IRAP tax increase. The second question would be on the synergies again. You targeted the half of the EUR 250 million to 2031 in 2026. Do you already have some visibility on what is going to happen in the years 2027 to 2031? Is it going to be 2027 again a peak year, or is it going to be distributed evenly in the rest of the years? Thank you very much.
The impact of the increase of the tax rate IRAP is more or less 2% on the overall. Regarding the synergy, there is a big ramp-up in 2026. Of course, I think we are going to have, if I remember well, 80% by 2028. 2026 will be very strong. 2027 will continue to grow the overall amount in 2028. The peak year will be this year, and then the additional amount will be, of course, lower. The 2026 would be probably the peak year in term of absolute number.
Of course, 2027 will be higher than 2026 because that will be that will account for the work we have already achieved in 2026 will be translated in 2027, but the additional amount is not what you will see from 2026 in respect to 2025. I don't know. If you go to page 19 of our plan presentation, you have exactly the ramping up of the EUR 250 million synergies. What I can tell you that in 2027 we will start seeing a significant number coming from AI. That to me is also an important element. In page 20 and 21 of the strategic plan, you will have also some details about that. Some of them I have already mentioned before when I presented the synergy.
Thank you very much.
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