In the same period, the amount of the Group's gross operating profit (Ebitda) grew by 7.6% to 985.8 million euros.
The attributable net profit was 426 million euros, up 6.3% on the 401.4 million euros achieved during the same period in 2023.
On 30 September, the consolidated net financial debt was 3,207.6 million euros, with an increase of 3.5% compared to December 2023, due to the increased investments in growth (made in the Environment and Water business areas in particular), the corresponding debt consolidation of the recent acquisitions and the removal of the discontinued operations, since 1 May 2024, of Real Estate and Cement, which are being spun off, from the financial debt.
The Group's equity grew by 6.8% to 6,562.5 million euros.
The business backlog amounted to 43,189.4 million euros, an increase of 4.1% compared to the balance at the end of 2023.
Milestones in the first nine months
Environment
FCC Medio Ambiente completed the acquisition of Europe Services Groupe (ESG)'s operating subsidiaries in France in August for 107.4 million euros. This entity operates several lines of business, including waste collection and street cleaning, in two of the most populous regions of the country (Ile-de-France and Rhône-Alpes).
The Environmental Services business area completed the acquisition of the Urbaser group's business in the United Kingdom in June. The enterprise value (including debt and equity) amounted to 398 million pounds sterling. The business acquired mainly undertakes recycling and waste treatment activities.
At the end of May, FCC Environmental Services, the subsidiary of the environmental business area operating in the United States, acquired Gel Recycling Holdings, one of the largest management companies for recyclable materials in central Florida. This acquisition also included the addition of three recycling facilities for construction and demolition debris.
In Spain, the joint venture created by FCC Medio Ambiente and its subsidiary FCC Equal (Special Employment Centre) was awarded the management contract for waste collection, street cleaning and waste facilities in the city of Benalmádena in Malaga, with expected revenue of 82 euros million to 2034. This contract includes 36% of employees with disabilities from FCC Equal.
Aqualia
Aqualia has opened one of the largest biofactories for microalgae in Europe, in Mérida, as part of the European "H2020 SABANA" R&D project. This project has received 11 million euros in investment from EU Funds and 1.5 million euros from Aqualia, the current concessionary company for management of the municipal water service in the capital of Extremadura.
In Spain, in the first nine months of the year, a consortium including Aqualia was awarded the contract for the operation, maintenance and repair of the three desalination plants in Ibiza over the next four years, which can be extended for a further year. The contract is worth 14.2 million euros.
The presence in Mexico has been reinforced with the start of the first phase of the "Comprehensive Management Improvement" (MIG) project of the drinking water service in Cabo San Lucas, in the state of Baja California Sur. The MIG project is a public-private partnership contract with the Municipal Water System Operator, which provides Aqualia with a backlog of 53 million euros and involves investment of 32 million euros for the modernisation, equipping, operation and maintenance of water infrastructure.
In January, Aqualia completed the acquisition of the Texas group Municipal District Services (MDS) based in Houston, which manages the end-to-end cycle for 364,000 people on the outskirts of Houston, with some 140 service contracts with municipal districts. MDS is the second largest end-to-end service provider in the Houston area (one of the five largest cities in the USA).
Construction
In September, FCC Construcción was awarded a 182 euro million contract to build 490 social housing units in South Cairns, Queensland, in Australia. This project, which will be performed by FCC Construction Australia, is supported by the regional government of Queensland's Housing Investment Fund.
In July, the Cross Fraser Partnership, in which FCC Construcción has a 33% share, was selected as the Preferred Proponent for the Fraser River Tunnel project in British Columbia. A Design Early Works Agreement has been signed as a preliminary phase in the development and performance of one of the largest road infrastructure projects in Canada, which will use a cooperative model.
In March, the infrastructure department of Ontario in Canada awarded a consortium in which FCC has a 50% stake the first phase of development of a construction contract for new tunnels and stations for the Toronto metro network. This project has a total estimated budget of over 1,600 million euros and includes the construction of three kilometres of twin tunnels on Pape Avenue, two subway stations (Pape and Cosburn) and a railroad switch, as well as auxiliary installations.
In the first half of the year, the contract for the Rubí line (Casa da Música - Santo Ovidio) of the Porto Metro (Portugal) added over €225 million to FCC's backlog (60% of the consortium).
Two industrial contracts were awarded during the period. A consortium in which the company has a 30.2% stake added more than 260 million euros to the backlog for the construction of a storage and regasification facility in Stade in Germany, following completion of the initial phase of preliminary studies for the project. And a consortium formed by FCC Industrial (with a 28% stake) won the tender for installation of signalling and railway traffic management for the Murcia-Almeria section of the Mediterranean Corridor in Spain, in a contract totalling 177 million euros.
Finally, the Santiago Bernabéu football stadium, which was designed and built by FCC Construcción, has been recognised as the Best Stadium of the Year 2024 by the World Football Summit (WFS), the leading platform for the global football industry.
Concessions
In January, FCC Concesiones was awarded Lot 8 of the Extraordinary Road Investment Plan for the Autonomous Region of Aragon. The concession contract has a term of 25 years with an initial investment of more than 40 million euros, with actions involving over 200 km of roads. The works are expected to start before the end of 2024.
Acquisition of all the shares of the Parla Tram, which was agreed in December 2023, was completed in April. This concession contract, which includes the construction and operation of 8.3 kilometres of infrastructure with 15 stops, was signed in 2005 for a period of 40 years. This acquisition strengthens the position of FCC Concesiones in the high-capacity urban transport sector, adding to its tram operation in Murcia, Zaragoza and Barcelona.
© 2024 GlobeNewswire (Europe)
