September 29 (Renewables Now) – Abengoa SA (BME:ABG) moved to positive EBITDA of EUR 16 million (USD 18.9m) in the first half of 2017, compared to negative EUR 59 million a year earlier, attributing the improvement to efforts to cut overhead costs.
Khi Solar One began operations in 2016
Had it not been for one-offs, including costs related to its financial restructuring and construction provisions, the Spanish engineering and renewables group would have recorded earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of EUR 117 million.
Revenue increased slightly to EUR 691 million from EUR 688 million. The results exclude the effect of discontinued activities.
Revenues at the engineering and construction business declined to EUR 606 million from EUR 615 million.
At the concession-type infrastructure segment, revenues climbed to EUR 86 million from EUR 73 million, reflecting the start of operations of the 50-MW Khi Solar One concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in South Africa last year and improved performance of certain assets.
The bottom line showed a net result of EUR 4.9 billion due to adjustments stemming from the restructuring that was completed in March, including debt write-offs and the group’s share capital increase.
A September 25 ruling by the Mercantile Court of Seville number 2 with respect to challenges to the judicial approval of the restructuring agreement maintains the judicial approval but excludes EUR 72 million of debt from the agreement. “The Company considers that the decision does not specify what treatment the excluded debt should receive, and on this basis will request a clarification from the Court through the necessary channels,” Abengoa said.
