OREANDA-NEWS. Our first priority is to provide our customers with high-quality drinking water, reliable water supply and wastewater discharge services. Similar to previous years, 2015 can be characterised with excellent and even further improved quality levels across all the services we provide. We will continue to focus on maintaining and improving all our key performance indicators so our consumers can rely on the service they receive.

Last year was crowned by an exceptionally high customer satisfaction, reaching as high as 94 index points according to the survey carried out by EMOR. This is the highest score we have achieved so far, significantly exceeding the average of the European and Estonian industrial sector, and taking us to the Top 10% of European utility sector (average 86 index points). The high satisfaction is definitely a reflection of a very high quality service, but also of our dedication to making continuous improvements throughout the business.

In 2015 we achieved the best ever water quality of 99.86%. We took altogether 2,945 samples from consumers taps and did 24,500 water analysis, out of which, only 4 samples exceeded the limit values.

The level of leakages indicating water loss in the distribution network is also decreasing year-on-year due to preventive actions. Despite that the level of leakages was very low already in 2014, in 2015 this parameter improved even more, reaching the lowest ever level in Tallinna Vesi’s history. While in 2014 the level of leakages was at 16.14%, in 2015 the respective number was 14.68%.

In 2015, we were awarded with the Golden Mark in CSR Index, which is a sign of being responsible in our actions and minds. At the end of 2015, we were recognized as the most youth and children-friendly company in Tallinn, which is a great pleasure, especially because we consider the work done with the young people to be a starting point for a more environment-friendly consumer behaviour. It is also extremely important in our service that working would be safe for both our employees and the residents of Tallinn. In 2015, we received the “Good Working Environment 2015” award demonstrating that we are doing the right thing. 

All good results and recognition is only possible thanks to the dedication and hard work of our employees. The employee satisfaction survey showed continuously high commitment, above the average satisfaction of both the Estonian and European companies. In 2014 the satisfaction was at 71 index point level and 72 index points in 2015.

Operational performance for 2015

Indicator 2014 12 months 2015 12 months
Drinking water
Compliance of water quality at the customers’ tap 99.80% 99.86%
Water loss in the water distribution network 16.14% 14.68%
Average duration of water interruptions per property in hours                     3.15 h                     3.22 h
Wastewater
Number of sewer blockages 757 737
Number of sewer bursts 119 127
Wastewater treatment compliance with environmental standards 100% 100%
Customer Service
Number of written complaints 76 67
Number of customer contacts regarding water quality 152 115
Number of customer contacts regarding water pressure 380 337
Number of customer contacts regarding blockages and discharge of storm water 1 060 1 061
Responding written customer contacts within at least 2 work days 99.1% 99.2%
Number of failed promises 54 9
Notification of unplanned water interruptions at least 1 h before the interruption 95.0% 98.7%

   

Contractual Highlights

  • Tariffs of AS Tallinna Vesi continue to be on the same level based on temporary injunction granted by the Court for the period of court proceedings to protect the Company from unilateral breach of privatization agreement by the Estonian Authorities.
  • AS Tallinna Vesi would like all its shareholders to be fully aware of the facts that the Company was privatised in 2001 with the full support and knowledge of the Estonian national government, with written confirmations from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance regarding the key terms of the agreements, and using the expertise and guidance of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
  • At the end of May 2012 the District Court ruled that AS Tallinna Vesi’s Services Agreement, that was part of the international privatisation, is a public law contract. AS Tallinna Vesi firmly believes that the terms and conditions of the international privatisation contract that has been deemed a public law contract should not be broken simply by transferring the duties of the regulator from one state institution (the City of Tallinn) to a different state institution (the Competition Authority). A public law contract should enjoy the protection of the Estonian legal system, and should the contract not be honoured, the company will have a claim against the Estonian state.
  • In May 2014, AS Tallinna Vesi submitted a claim against the Competition Authority to the Tallinn Administrative Court to avoid the expiry of monetary claims. The Company claims compensation for potential damages over the lifetime of the international privatisation contract up to 2020. The claim estimation includes future volumes and expectations for consumer price index (CPI). As the CPI has been recently lower than at the time of submitting the estimated, the estimated undiscounted value of the claim is around 74 million euros compared to over the 90 million euros submitted. The Court decided to stay the claim proceeding until the main tariff dispute is resolved.
  • In 2015, there was three hearings in the local court as regards to the tariff dispute. On 5th of June, the Tallinn Administrative Court dismissed the Company’s complaint in tariff dispute. The reasoning of the dismissal of complaints was released not until 12th of October 2015. Tallinn Administrative Court formed an opinion that the tariffs part of the Services Agreement, which has been deemed to be as a public law contract by the Estonian Courts in 2012, is not binding on the Competition Authority. AS Tallinna Vesi finds the opinion formed by the Court to be unfounded. AS Tallinna Vesi filed the appeal to the Tallinn District Court on 11th of November 2015.
  • In October 2014, in parallel to the local dispute about tariffs AS Tallinna Vesi and its shareholder United Utilities (Tallinn) B.V have commenced international arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Estonia for breaching the international treaty and more specifically “the fair and equitable treatment” requirement by changes to the law and activities of the public authorities which have deprived AS Tallinna Vesi from tariffs approved according to the Services Agreement concluded as part of the privatisation in 2001. The arbitration will be carried out through the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), which is part of the World Bank Group.
  • On 17th of June 2015, the timetable of the International Arbitration Proceedings was determined, with the final hearing set for November 2016. Procedural orders and decisions issued during the arbitration process, subject to the redaction of the confidential information, are available on the ICSID website.
  • International Arbitration Proceedings are being held in parallel and separately from local Court dispute.
  • There has not been no hearings in disputes in 4th quarter of 2015.
  • It has been three years already during which the Company has made intensive effort in trying to agree a solution in order to get the tariff dispute solved. Regretfully it has not been achieved.
  • AS Tallinna Vesi has continuously stated its belief in fully transparent regulation and its willingness to enter into meaningful and evidence-based dialogue that takes into account the privatization contract signed in 2001.

   

Financial highlights of 4th quarter 2015

The Group’s sales revenues during the 4th quarter of 2015 were EUR 14.53 million, being up by 9.2% or EUR 1.22 million compared to the same period in 2014.

The gross profit in the 4th quarter of 2015 was EUR 8.18 million, showing an increase by 2.9% or EUR 0.23 million. Increase in gross profit was related to higher water, wastewater and storm water revenues and lower chemical and pollution tax costs which was accompanied by higher revenues and profit from construction and asphalting services for outside the Group customers.

The operating profit was EUR 6.75 million, showing an increase by 2.1% or EUR 0.14 million. The operating profit was mainly impacted by the above mentioned increase in revenues, which was balanced by higher staff costs and continuously high legal costs.

The net profit for the 4th quarter of 2015 was EUR 6.24 million, being down by 0.8% or EUR 0.05 million.  The net profit was mainly impacted by above mentioned changes in operating profit and higher financial expenses. Higher financial expenses was influenced by the negative change in the fair value of swap contracts in the 4th quarter of 2015 by EUR 0.53 million compared to the same period in 2014, which was partly balanced by the decrease in interest costs by EUR 0.38 million year on year. The net profit for the 4th quarter of 2015 and 2014 without the impact resulted from the change of the fair value of swap contracts was respectively EUR 6.38 million and EUR 6.02 million, being 6.0% or EUR 0.36 million higher than in the comparative period last year.

 

million EUR Q4 2013 Q4 2014 Q4 2015 Change
15/14		 12 months 2013 12 months 2014 12 months 2015 Change
15/14
Sales 13.78 13.31 14.53 9.2% 53.09 53.24 55.93 5.0%
Gross profit 8.29 7.95 8.18 2.9% 30.58 30.84 32.25 4.6%
Gross profit margin % 60.20 59.71 56.26 -5.8% 57.61 57.93 57.66 -0.5%
Operating profit 6.55 6.61 6.75 2.1% 24.76 24.83 25.58 3.0%
Operating profit - main business 6.55 6.56 6.65 1.3% 24.50 24.53 25.24 2.9%
Operating profit margin % 47.55 49.62 46.41 -6.5% 46.63 46.63 45.73 -1.9%
Profit before taxes 6.19 6.29 6.24 -0.8% 24.56 22.73 24.36 7.2%
Net profit 6.19 6.29 6.24 -0.8% 19.94 17.94 19.86 10.7%
Net profit margin % 44.95 47.24 42.91 -9.2% 37.55 33.70 35.51 5.4%
ROA % 3.05 3.06 2.98 -2.5% 9.83 8.73 9.50 8.8%
Debt to total capital employed 56.98 57.61 57.43 -0.3% 56.98 57.61 57.43 -0.3%
ROE % 7.10 7.22 7.01 -2.9% 22.86 20.59 22.31 8.4%
Current ratio 5.13 5.35 5.40 0.8% 5.13 5.35 5.40 0.8%

Gross profit margin – Gross profit / Net sales

Operating profit margin – Operating profit / Net sales

Net profit margin – Net profit / Net sales

ROA – Net profit /average Total assets for the period

Debt to Total capital employed – Total liabilities / Total capital employed

ROE – Net profit / Total equity

Current ratio – Current assets / Current liabilities

Main business – water and wastewater activities, excl. connections profit and government grants, construction services, doubtful debt, other income

  

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE 4th QUARTER 2015

Profit and Loss Statement

4th quarter 2015

Sales

As the Company’s tariffs are frozen at the 2010 tariff level, the changes in the revenues from main activities, i.e. from sales of water and wastewater services, are fully driven by consumption.

In the 4th quarter of 2015 the Group’s total sales were EUR 14.53 million, showing an increase by 9.2% or EUR 1.22 million year on year. 86.3% of sales comprise of sales of water and wastewater services to domestic and commercial customers within and outside of the service area. 5.5% of sales are the fees received from the City of Tallinn for operating and maintaining the storm water system and fire hydrants and 8.2% from other works and services.

Revenues from main operating activities (thousand EUR) Quarter 4 Variance 15/14
  2015 2014 2013 EUR %
Private clients, incl: 6 232 6 139 6 026 93 1.5%
Water supply service 3 437 3 390 3 329 47 1.4%
Wastewater disposal service 2 795 2 749 2 697 46 1.7%
Corporate clients, incl: 4 942 4 848 4 776 94 1.9%
Water supply service 2 726 2 681 2 640 45 1.7%
Wastewater disposal service 2 216 2 167 2 136 49 2.3%
Outside service area clients, incl: 1 202 1 163 1 163 39 3.4%
Water supply service 341 319 294 22 6.9%
Wastewater disposal service 760 741 721 19 2.6%
Storm water disposal service 101 103 148 -2 -1.9%
Over pollution fee 169 190 146 -21 -11.1%
           
Storm water treatment and disposal service and fire hydrant service 801 593 980 208 35.1%
Construction service, design and asphalting 1 037 228 437 809 354.8%
Other works and services 151 149 250 2 1.3%

 

Sales from water and wastewater services were EUR 12.55 million, showing a 1.7% or EUR 0.20 million increase compared to the 4th quarter of 2014, resulting from the changes in sales volumes as described below:

  • There has been a slight increase in all residential customer groups in the 4th quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 resulting an increase in private customers’ revenues in total by 1.5% to EUR 6.23 million.
  • Sales to commercial customers within the service area has increased by 1.9% to EUR 4.94 million, coming mostly from the increase from industry and also other customer segment.
  • Sales to customers outside of the main service area has shown an increase by 3.4% to EUR 1.20 million. Wastewater revenues increased by 2.6% to EUR 0.76 million and water revenues increased by 6.9% to EUR 0.34 million.
  • Over pollution fees received have decreased by 11.1% to EUR 0.17 million.

Sales from the operation and maintenance of the main service area storm water and fire-hydrant system were EUR 0.80 million, showing an increase of 35.1% or EUR 0.21 million in the 4th quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.

Sales of construction, design and asphalting services were EUR 1.04 million, having increased by 354.8% or EUR 0.81 million year on year. The increase was related to the asphalting services that the Group started to provide for external customers in 2015, but also higher pipe construction revenues due to favourable weather and longer construction period in 2015 compared to last year end.

 

Cost of Goods Sold and Gross profit

The cost of goods sold amounted to EUR 6.36 million in the 4th quarter of 2015, showing 18.5% or EUR 0.99 million increase compared to the equivalent period in 2014. The cost increase is mainly influenced by higher staff costs and increase in construction and asphalting services related costs, which were balanced by lower total direct production costs.

Cost of goods sold (thousand EUR) Quarter 4 Variance 15/14
  2015 2014 2013 EUR %
Water abstraction charges -282 -267 -257 -15 -5.6%
Chemicals -400 -444 -424 44 9.9%
Electricity -747 -743 -826 -4 -0.5%
Pollution tax -234 -328 -58 94 28.7%
Total direct production costs -1 663 -1 782 -1 565 119 6.7%
Staff costs -1 481 -1 157 -1 202 -324 -28.0%
Depreciation and amortization -1 437 -1 342 -1 266 -95 -7.1%
Construction service, design and asphalting -951 -173 -357 -778 -449.7%
Other costs of goods sold -825 -909 -1 094 84 9.2%
Other costs of goods sold total -4 694 -3 581 -3 919 -1 113 -31.1%
Total cost of goods sold -6 357 -5 363 -5 484 -994 -18.5%

Total direct production costs (water abstraction charges, chemicals, electricity and pollution tax) were EUR 1.66 million, showing 6.7% or EUR 0.12 million decrease year on year. Biggest decrease came from chemical costs and pollution tax. Other direct production costs increase came from a combination of changes in prices and tax rates and changes in treatment volumes that affected the cost of goods sold together with the following additional factors:

  • Water abstraction charges increased by 5.6% to EUR 0.28 million, driven by increase in treated volumes and on average 2.8% raise in tax rates.
  • Chemicals costs decreased by 9.9% to EUR 0.40 million, mainly due to smaller use of chemicals to remove pollutants in wastewater treatment process and also by 13.8% lower methanol price, worth EUR 0.017 million and EUR 0.026 million respectively.
  • Electricity costs were relatively stable increasing only by 0.5% to EUR 0.75 million. Electricity costs increase was related to higher electricity use per m3 in both treatment processes and increase in treated volumes balanced by lower electricity prices.
  • Pollution tax expense decreased by 28.7% to EUR 0.23 million. Compared to the 4th quarter of 2014 the pollution tax expenses decreased partly due to incident in one pumping station in the 4th quarter of 2014 which had the impact on costs of EUR 0.12 million. Eliminating the influence of this incident in 2014 the pollution tax expense increased by 12.0% in the 4th quarter of 2015. The main contribution to increased pollution tax expenses came from on average 3.2% raise in tax rates in the amount of EUR 0.029 million.

Other costs of goods sold (staff costs, depreciation, construction and asphalting services costs and other costs of goods sold) amounted to EUR 4.69 million, having increased by 31.1% or EUR 1.11 million. Most of the increase came from higher staff costs and costs related to construction and asphalting services. Staff cost increase of 28.0% to EUR 1.48 million was partly related to higher headcount in order to provide more efficient and broader range of services internally and externally, but also reduced bonus reserve in 2014 and increases in salaries in 2015. Increase in construction and asphalting services costs by 449.7% to EUR 0.95 million was related to increased construction and asphalting revenues.

As a result of all above the Group’s gross profit for the 4th quarter of 2015 was EUR 8.18 million, showing an increase of 2.9% or EUR 0.23 million, compared to the gross profit of EUR 7.95 million for the comparative period of 2014.

Administrative and marketing expenses

Administrative and marketing expenses were EUR 1.36 million, showing a slight increase by 1.9% or EUR 0.03 million. Increase in salary expenses was mostly related to reduced bonus reserve in 2014 but also to salary increases in the beginning of 2015. Other administrative costs were lower as no outside awareness campaign was carried out in 4th quarter in 2015. Legal and consultation fees also continue to be at a high level during the time the Company has ongoing local and international disputes.

Operating profit

As a result of the factors listed above the Group’s operating profit for the 4th quarter of 2015 totalled EUR 6.75 million, being 2.1% or EUR 0.14 million higher than in the corresponding quarter of 2014. The Group’s operating profit from main business was 1.3% or EUR 0.09 million higher compared to 2014.

Financial expenses

The Group’s net financial income and expenses have resulted a net expense of EUR 0.51 million, compared to net expense of EUR 0.32 million in the 4th quarter of 2014. It is mainly impacted by a negative change of the fair value of the swap contracts year on year (EUR -0.53 million), which was balanced by the decrease in the interest costs (EUR 0.38 mln euros).

The standalone swap agreements have been signed to mitigate the majority of the long term floating interest risk. The interest swap agreements are signed for EUR 75 million and EUR 20 million are still with floating interest rate. At this point in time the estimated fair value of the swap contracts is negative, totalling EUR 1.01 million. Effective interest rate of loans (incl. swap interests) in the 4th quarter of 2015 was 1.57%, amounting in the interest costs of EUR 0.38 million, compared to the effective interest rate of 3.12% and the interest costs of EUR 0.76 million in the 4th quarter of 2014.

Profit Before and After Tax

The Group’s profit before taxes and net profit for the 4th quarter of 2015 was EUR 6.24 million, being 0.8% or EUR 0.05 million lower than for the 4th quarter of 2014, resulting mainly from increased revenues, balanced by the increased costs and net financial expenses as described above. Eliminating the influence of the derivatives fair value and pollution tax influence, the Group’s profit before taxes and net profit for the 4th quarter of 2015 would have been EUR 6.38 million, showing an increase by 6.0% or EUR 0.36 million compared to the relevant period in 2014.

Results for the twelve months of 2015

During the twelve months of 2015 the Group’s total sales were EUR 55.93 million, showing an increase by 5.0% or EUR 2.69 million year on year. Sales from water and wastewater services were EUR 49.30 million, increasing 1.4% or EUR 0.70 million compared to the twelve months of 2014.

During the twelve months of 2015 there has been a 1.1% or EUR 0.25 million increase in the sales to residential customers and 1.4% or EUR 0.27 million increase in the sales to the commercial customers within the service area. Increase in the sales to residential customers comes mainly from the apartment blocks, which is the biggest private customer segment for the Group. The sales increase in commercial customers is mostly related to industrial and other customer segments. The sales revenues from outside service area customers for water, wastewater and storm water services have increased 5.4% or EUR 0.25 million compared to the twelve months of 2014.

Sales from the operation and maintenance of the main service area storm water and fire-hydrant system in the twelve months of 2015 were EUR 3.36 million, showing an increase of 9.2% or EUR 0.28 million.  

Revenues from main operating activities (thousand EUR) Year ended 31.12. Variance 15/14
  2015 2014 2013 EUR %
Private clients, incl: 24 408 24 154 23 642 254 1.1%
Water supply service 13 436 13 303 13 022 133 1.0%
Wastewater disposal service 10 972 10 851 10 620 121 1.1%
Corporate clients, incl: 19 358 19 085 19 053 273 1.4%
Water supply service 10 736 10 664 10 585 72 0.7%
Wastewater disposal service 8 622 8 421 8 468 201 2.4%
Outside service area clients, incl: 4 765 4 520 4 308 245 5.4%
Water supply service 1 280 1 153 1 095 127 11.0%
Wastewater disposal service 3 011 2 957 2 730 54 1.8%
Storm water disposal service 474 410 483 64 15.6%
Over pollution fee 766 839 734 -73 -8.7%
           
Storm water treatment and disposal service and fire hydrant service 3 357 3 073 3 424 284 9.2%
Construction service, design and asphalting 2 724 943 1 146 1 781 188.9%
Other works and services 550 627 780 -77 -12.3%

  

Sales of construction, design and asphalting services were EUR 2.72 million, increasing by 188.9% or EUR 1.78 million year on year. In 2014 the Group started with insourcing asphalting services and did not provide almost any service for external customer. During the twelve months of 2015 the Group has provided asphalting services to external customers for EUR 0.79 million. Reminder of the increase is related to higher pipe construction revenues mainly because of longer construction period in 2015 compared to last year due to favourable weather conditions.

Cost of goods sold (thousand EUR) Year ended 31.12. Variance 15/14
  2015 2014 2013 EUR %
Water abstraction charges -1 101 -1 057 -997 -44 -4.2%
Chemicals -1 531 -1 737 -1 734 206 11.9%
Electricity -3 035 -3 032 -3 392 -3 -0.1%
Pollution tax -1 002 -2 163 -1 872 1 161 53.7%
Total direct production costs -6 669 -7 989 -7 995 1 320 16.5%
Staff costs -5 603 -4 880 -4 833 -723 -14.8%
Depreciation and amortization -5 690 -5 370 -5 115 -320 -6.0%
Construction service, design and asphalting -2 398 -784 -947 -1 614 -205.9%
Other costs of goods sold -3 319 -3 376 -3 615 57 1.7%
Other costs of goods sold total -17 010 -14 410 -14 510 -2 600 -18.0%
Total cost of goods sold -23 679 -22 399 -22 505 -1 280 -5.7%

  

Total direct production costs (water abstraction charges, chemicals, electricity and pollution taxes) were EUR 6.67 million, showing a decrease by 16.5% or EUR 1.32 million year on year. Biggest decrease came from the decrease in pollution tax and chemicals costs, balanced slightly by increase in water abstraction charges as described below:

  • Water abstraction charges increased by 4.2% to EUR 1.10 million, driven by increase in treated volumes and on average 3.1% raise in tax rates.
  • Chemicals costs decreased by 11.9% to EUR 1.53 million, driven mainly by smaller use of chemicals to removing pollutants in wastewater treatment process and on average 10.4% lower methanol price, worth respectively EUR 0.15 million and EUR 0.07 million.
  • In the twelve months of 2015 electricity costs were almost at the same level as in 2014 amounting to EUR 3.04 million.
  • Pollution tax expense decreased by 53.7% to EUR 1.00 million. The decrease is mainly influenced by the change of the water permit at the end of 2013, which was in effect until the end of the 2nd quarter of 2014. In the changed water permit the allowed concentration for heavy metals was decreased by 400 times. Previously applicable concentration limits were re-established starting from the 3rd quarter of 2014, after which the pollution tax costs stabilised at the normal level. Eliminating the influences of changed water permit the pollution tax expenses have increased by 12.6% or EUR 0.11 million year on year. The main contribution to increased pollution tax expenses came from on average 4.8% raise in tax rates in the amount of EUR 0.12 million.

Other cost of goods sold (staff costs, depreciation, construction and asphalting services costs and other cost of goods sold) amounted to EUR 17.01 million, being higher by 18.0% or EUR 2.60 million compared to the same period in 2014. Main increase came from increase in staff costs and costs related to higher construction and asphalting services. Higher staff costs were partly related to the Group having a higher headcount on average to provide more efficient and broader range of services internally and externally, but also to increases in salaries and reduced bonus reserve in 2014.

The gross profit for the twelve months of 2015 was EUR 32.25 million, being 4.6% or EUR 1.41 million higher compared to the same period in 2014. The operating profit was EUR 25.58 million, showing an increase by 3.0% or EUR 0.75 million during the twelve months of 2015. The increase in operating profit came from changes in gross profit mentioned earlier, which was balanced by increase in other operating costs mostly driven by higher salary costs and consultation and legal fees related to tariff dispute. Legal and consultation fees continue to be at a high level during the time the Company has ongoing local and international disputes.

The Group’s net financial income and expenses have resulted a net expense of EUR 1.22 million, compared to net expense of EUR 2.10 million in the twelve months of 2014. Being influenced by the decrease in interest costs by EUR 0.85 million, which was supplemented by the non-monetary impact of the change in the fair value of the swap contracts the Company has entered. The positive non-monetary impact for 2015 expenses is EUR 0.83 million (2014: positive impact EUR 0.48 million).

The Group’s profit before taxes for the twelve months of 2015 was EUR 24.36 million, showing a 7.2% increase compared to the relevant period in 2014. The Group’s net profit for the twelve months of 2015 was EUR 19.86 million, which is EUR 1.92 million higher than the net profit for equivalent period in 2014.

Balance sheet

In the twelve months of 2015 the Group invested EUR 11.30 million into fixed assets. As of 31st December 2015 non-current tangible assets amounted to EUR 162.73 million and total non-current assets amounted to EUR 163.63 million (31st December 2014: EUR 157.48 million and EUR 158.34 million respectively).

Compared to the year end of 2014 there has been a reduction in receivables and prepayments in the amount of EUR 1.09 million to EUR 7.17 million, which is mainly related to collection of money for network extension program.

Current liabilities have decreased by EUR 0.41 million to EUR 8.42 million compared to the year end of 2014.  The increase in trade and other payables by EUR 0.73 million was balanced by decrease in derivatives fair value by EUR 0.56 million and in prepayments by EUR 0.65 million. Increase in payables is related to increased investment related liabilities as well as bigger bonus reserve.

The Group’s loan balance has remained stable at EUR 95 million. The weighted average interest risk margin for the total loan facility is 0.95%.

The Group has a Total debt/Total assets level as expected of 57.4%, in range of 55%-65%, reflecting the Group’s equity profile. This level is consistent with the same period in 2014 when the Total debt/Total assets ratio was 57.6%.

Deferred income from connection fees has grown compared to the end of 2014 by EUR 2.46 million to 15.03 million.

Contingent liability regarding the tariff risk

In the 4th quarter of 2011 the Group evaluated and noted an exceptional off-balance sheet contingent liability, which could cause an outflow of economic benefits of up to EUR 36.0 million. In the 4th quarter of 2015 the Group re-evaluated the liability, which now stands at EUR 42.8 million, as per note 13 to the accounts. The re-evaluation is made annually at the end of the year.

  

Cash flows

As of 31st December 2015 the cash position of the Group is strong. At the end of December 2015 the cash balance of the Group stood at EUR 37.82 million, which is 18.1% of the total assets (31st December 2014: EUR 38.56 million, forming 18.8% of the total assets).

The biggest contribution to the cash flows comes from main operations. During the twelve months of 2015, the Group generated EUR 31.11 million of cash flows from operating activities, a decrease of EUR 0.34 million compared to the corresponding period in 2014. Underlying operating profit still continues to be the main contributor to operating cash flows. The collection of receivables continues to be strong.

In the twelve months of 2015 the result of net cash flows from investing activities was a cash outflow of EUR 6.87 million, a decrease of EUR 8.19 million compared to the inflow of EUR 1.32 million in the twelve months of 2014. This is made up as follows:

  • In the twelve months of 2015 the investments in fixed assets have increased by EUR 3.85 million compared to 2014 amounting to EUR 13.50 million.
  • The compensations received for the construction of pipelines were EUR 6.50 million in the twelve months of 2015, showing a decrease of EUR 4.02 million compared to the same period of 2014.

In the twelve months of 2015 cash outflow from financing activities amounted to EUR 24.99 million, decreasing by EUR 1.01 million compared to the same period in 2014. The change was mainly related to reduction in interest payments by EUR 0.82 million related to the renewal of swap contracts. In addition, despite of the same dividend payment, the dividend income tax was lower by EUR 0.29 million as there was a change in income tax rate.

 

Employees

At the end of the 4th quarter of 2015, the total number of employees was 323 compared to 321 at the end of the 4th quarter of 2014. The full time equivalent (FTE) was respectively 311 in 2015 compared to the 307 in 2014. Average number of employees (FTE) during the full year was respectively 307 in 2015 and 300 in 2014. The management continues to work actively for the efficiencies in processes to balance the increase in individual salaries and cost pressure from the market with more productive company structure.

  

Dividends

Dividend allocation to the shareholders is recorded as a liability in the financial statement of the Company at the time when the profit allocation and dividend payment is confirmed by the annual general meeting of shareholders.

According to the dividend policy, which is also published on Company’s website, the Company will maintain dividends to shareholders at the same amount in real terms, i.e. dividends will increase in line with inflation each year.

In the annual general meeting of shareholders held on 27th of May 2015, 90 cents dividends per share and the total dividend pay-out from the profit of 2014 net income in the amount of EUR 18.0 million was approved. It is in accordance with the Company’s dividend policy. Compared to 2014 dividends of 90 cents per share there was no change.

Dividends were paid out on 19th of June 2015.

 

Share performance

AS Tallinna Vesi is listed on NASDAQ OMX Main Baltic Market with trading code TVEAT and ISIN EE3100026436.

As of 31 December 2015 AS Tallinna Vesi shareholders, with a direct holding over 5%, were:

United Utilities (Tallinn) BV 35.3%
City of Tallinn 34.7%

During the twelve months of 2015 the shareholder structure has been relatively stable compared to the end of 2014. At the end of 4th quarter 2015 the pension funds owned 1.89% of the total shares compared to 1.54% at the end of 4th quarter 2014.

As of 31st December 2015, the closing price of the AS Tallinna Vesi share stood at the same level as of 30th of September 2015 being EUR 13.80 (in the 4th quarter of 2014: the change was +3.2%). During the same period the OMX Tallinn index increased by 4.1% (2014: -1.3%). During the twelve months of 2015 AS Tallinna Vesi share price changed by 5.3% from 13.10 euros to 13.80 euros, while OMXT index increased by 19.1% (2014: +10.1% from 11.9 euros to 13.1 euros; OMXT -7.7%).

In the twelve months of 2015, 7,818 deals with the Company’s shares were concluded (2014: 4,962 deals) during which 1,581 thousand shares or 7.9% exchanged their owners (2014: 1,239 thousand shares or 6.2%).

The turnover of the transactions was EUR 5.80 million higher than in 2014, amounting to EUR 21.75 million.