Ebitda reached R$ 3,519.5 million, 10.8% more than 2016. Another positive indicator was net revenue at R$ 7,010 million in 2017, a year-on-year increase of 8.8%. The Board of Directors approved a proposed credit to shareholders of R$ 636.8 million in complementary dividends (R$ 0.9755/share), to be ratified by the Annual General Meeting, and equivalent to a 100% payout of earnings for fiscal year 2017.

“We are satisfied with the results from the execution of our sustainable growth strategy, the enhanced capture of value of our assets, decentralization, decarbonization and digitization”, declares ENGIE Brasil Energia’s CEO, Eduardo Sattamini. He points out that management strategy based on portfolio diversification and equilibrium between short-, medium- and long-term operations has reduced the impact of one of the results of the MRE already highlighted by the sector with GSF at 79.7%. Such portfolio management reduced the necessity of buying energy at unfavorable prices. “We continue working to transmit still greater trust to our stakeholders and to generate still more positive results in 2018”.

Important acquisitions characterized the year, adding 1,437 MW to capacity either already installed or under development. Especial mention should be made of the hydroelectric plants of Miranda (408 MW) and Jaguara (424 MW), for both of which the Company offered the winning bid at a recent auction. The two plants are situated in the state of Minas Gerais and have already contributed revenue in the fourth quarter. Finally, the Umburanas Wind Complex project in Bahia (605 MW, of which 360 MW is already under construction) reinforces ENGIE’s global strategy of increasing the Company’s footprint in the market for unconventional sources of renewable energy. In 2017, energy selling volume was 35,761 GWh (4,082 aMW), 3.1% greater in average MW than was transacted in 2016.

NEW BUSINESS – The Company also made its debut in the transmission segment in December last, making the winning bid for a lot with 1,050 kilometers of high voltage lines together with five substations in the state of Paraná. “Investments in electric energy transmission is totally aligned with ENGIE’s strategy since it provides diversification to our asset portfolio in Brazil through investments in infrastructure with guaranteed long-term revenue flows indexed to local inflation and thus increasing the predictability of the Company’s cash generation”, says Sattamini. “By making for greater system efficiency, the new transmission line will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions”, he adds.

SOLAR ENERGY – In December 2017, Assu V Solar Plant went into commercial operations in the state of Rio Grande do Norte adding 30 MW to installed capacity. The investment in the project is worth approximately R$ 220 million.

DECARBONIZATION – Market soundings proceed for identifying potential purchasers for the Jorge Lacerda Thermoelectric Complex (in the state of Santa Catarina) and the Pampa Sul Thermoelectric Power Plant (in the state of Rio Grande do Sul). One of the potential acquirers has signed an exclusivity agreement to conduct due diligence on the assets.

SUSTAINABILITY – Recognition received by the Company reflects its good results. For the thirteenth consecutive year, ENGIE Brasil Energia was included as a component of the Business Sustainability Stock Index (ISE), of which it has been a part since inception in 2005. In January 2018, ENGIE Brasil Energia was included in a ranking of 100 of the most sustainable global companies, being placed 52nd out of nearly 6 thousand publicly held companies in the world.