Notes to the Half-Year Financial Statements
1 Business activities
BKW AG, Bern (CH), along with its Group companies (hereinafter “BKW” or the “BKW Group”), is an international energy and infrastructure company. Its company network and extensive expertise allow it to offer its customers a full range of overall solutions. The Group plans, builds and operates infrastructure to produce and supply energy to businesses, households and the public sector, and offers digital business models for renewable energies. The BKW Group portfolio of services comprises everything from engineering consultancy and planning for energy, infrastructure and environmental projects, through integrated offers in the field of building technology, to the construction, servicing and maintenance of energy, telecommunications, transport and water networks.
2 Basis of preparation
2.1 General principles
The unaudited consolidated half-year financial statements for the half-year ended 30 June 2021 have been prepared in accordance with the International Accounting Standard on Interim Financial Reporting (IAS 34) and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020. These half-year financial statements have been drawn up in accordance with the principles described in the Financial Report 2020. The consolidated half-year financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2021 were approved by the BKW AG Board of Directors on 2 September 2021 and released for publication.
The preparation of this half-year report entailed assumptions and estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
2.2 Adoption of new or changed standards and interpretations
BKW applies new or changed standards and interpretations from the date they enter into force.
A number of changed standards have come into effect from 1 January 2021. These have no material effect on BKW’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
2.3 Foreign currency exchange rates
The reporting currency is the Swiss franc (CHF). The currency exchange rates in relation to the Swiss franc applied in the consolidated financial statements are as follows:
Closing date 31.12.2020 | Closing date 30.06.2021 | Average 1st half-year 2020 | Average 1st half-year 2021 | ||
Eurozone | 1 EUR | 1.0802 | 1.0980 | 1.0640 | 1.0946 |
Norway | 100 NOK | 10.3168 | 10.7947 | 9.9385 | 10.7587 |
3 Business combinations
Business combinations 1st half-year 2021
CHF millions | R&P Ruffert | Miscellaneous | Total |
Cash and cash equivalents | 1.8 | 11.4 | 13.2 |
Trade accounts receivable and other receivables | 2.2 | 4.2 | 6.4 |
Other current assets | 3.7 | 3.9 | 7.6 |
Financial assets | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Property, plant and equipment | 2.2 | 11.6 | 13.8 |
Intangible assets | 5.6 | 2.2 | 7.8 |
Deferred tax assets | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 |
Current liabilities | – 4.8 | – 7.3 | – 12.1 |
Financial liabilities | – 1.9 | – 13.1 | – 15.0 |
Provisions | 0.0 | – 0.2 | – 0.2 |
Deferred tax liabilities | – 2.5 | – 0.3 | – 2.8 |
Pension liability | 0.0 | – 6.5 | – 6.5 |
Fair value of acquired net assets | 6.3 | 7.2 | 13.5 |
Goodwill | 32.2 | 18.0 | 50.2 |
Purchase price | 38.5 | 25.2 | 63.7 |
Cash and cash equivalents acquired | – 1.8 | – 11.4 | – 13.2 |
Contingent consideration | – 6.0 | – 1.5 | – 7.5 |
Deferred consideration | – 3.8 | – 1.2 | – 5.0 |
Cash outflow | 26.9 | 11.1 | 38.0 |
BKW made the following acquisitions in the first half of 2021. The values for the transactions listed are provisional since the purchase price allocations have not been finalised.
R&P Ruffert
In February BKW purchased 100 % of the shares in the German R&P Ruffert Group which operates in the area of infrastructure engineering. R&P Ruffert Group comprises 5 companies based in Limburg, Halle, Erfurt, Düsseldorf and Hamburg and has been assigned to the Services segment. Its range of services encompasses civil engineering, structural engineering, structural planning, and constructional testing and evaluation.
The contingent consideration liabilities recognised on the acquisition date are due depending on the future economic growth of the company. The goodwill recognised is mainly attributable to the expected synergies and the acquisition of a qualified workforce. The transaction costs amounted to CHF 0.4 million.
If the company had already been acquired as at 1 January 2021, total operating income for the first half of 2021 would have been CHF 2.5 million higher and net profit CHF 0.3 million higher. Between the point at which the company was fully consolidated and 30 June 2021, the company recorded a total operating income of CHF 6.2 million and a net profit of CHF 1.3 million.
Miscellaneous
In the first half of 2021, BKW conducted a number of other acquisitions. All of the businesses acquired have been assigned to the Services segment. Due to the number of acquisitions, their key financial figures and their allocation to the same segment, aggregated figures are shown with no separate presentation of individual business combinations.
In the area of Building Solutions, BKW purchased 100 % of the shares of networking and security specialist ngworx.AG and Othmar Bürgy AG Schaltanlagenbau.
In the area of Infra Services, BKW acquired 100 % of the shares of the Duvoisin-Groux Group from western Switzerland. Its business focuses in particular on project management, construction and maintenance of network infrastructure for power, overhead lines and telecommunications.
In the area of Engineering, BKW acquired 100 % of the shares of Munich-based Ranner Projektmanagement GmbH.
The transactions resulted in total goodwill of CHF 18.0 million. The goodwill recognised is mainly attributable to expected future synergies and the acquisition of a qualified workforce. The transaction costs amounted to CHF 0.1 million.
If the companies had already been acquired as at 1 January 2021, total operating income for the first half of 2021 would have been CHF 9.6 million higher and net profit CHF 0.8 million lower. Between the point at which the companies were fully consolidated and 30 June 2021, the acquired companies recorded total operating income of CHF 7.4 million and net profit of CHF 0.2 million.
CHF 26.6 million was paid for contingent consideration and CHF 1.6 million for deferred consideration for acquisitions made in the previous years.
Business combinations 1st half-year 2020
In the first half of 2020, BKW made no acquisitions. In the first half of 2020, CHF 6.9 million was paid for contingent consideration and CHF 15.5 million for deferred consideration for acquisitions made in the previous years.
4 Seasonality and fluctuations in business over the year
According to experience, performance of sales in the Services business is subject to seasonal fluctuations. Normally, business activity is higher in the second half of the year than in the first six months.
5 Segment reporting
Segments and segment results are defined on the basis of the management approach. In line with the strategy, BKW’s reporting lines are structured around the business areas Energy, Grid and Services.
BKW operates the following three reportable business segments:
- The Energy segment builds, operates and maintains BKW’s pool of power plants in Switzerland and abroad. It is also responsible for the sale of energy and heat and for trading in electricity, certificates and raw materials.
- The Grid segment builds, operates and maintains BKW’s distribution grid.
- The Services segment mainly comprises BKW Engineering (engineering design and consultancy), BKW Building Solutions (building technology) and BKW Infra Services (services for energy, water and telecommunication networks).
The column “Other” covers activities that are centrally managed within the Group. These are primarily central services, real estate, fleet management and procurement. Some of the costs that arise in conjunction with the build-up of business areas (acquisition/integration costs, technology development costs, etc.) are borne centrally.
Segment figures are determined in accordance with the same accounting and valuation principles that are applied for the Group-level presentation of consolidated figures. The prices for intercompany transactions (transfer prices) are based on the market price on the transaction date.
Information by business segment
1st half-year 2021 CHF millions | Energy | Grid | Services | Other | Consoli- dation | Total |
External revenue | 666.4 | 270.3 | 695.4 | 8.6 | 14.2 | 1,654.9 |
Net sales | 653.8 | 250.6 | 686.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1,590.8 |
Own work capitalised | 2.9 | 16.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 14.2 | 35.3 |
Other operating income | 9.7 | 2.8 | 8.3 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 28.8 |
Internal revenue | 10.8 | 3.7 | 42.1 | 73.5 | – 130.1 | 0.0 |
Net sales | 8.5 | 0.5 | 40.1 | 0.0 | – 49.1 | 0.0 |
Other operating income | 2.3 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 73.5 | – 81.0 | 0.0 |
Total operating income | 677.2 | 274.0 | 737.5 | 82.1 | – 115.9 | 1,654.9 |
Total operating expenses | – 546.0 | – 142.3 | – 669.0 | – 90.8 | 114.5 | – 1,333.6 |
Operating profit before depreciation, amortisation and impairment | 131.2 | 131.7 | 68.5 | – 8.7 | – 1.4 | 321.3 |
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment | – 37.8 | – 44.0 | – 31.5 | – 11.1 | 1.9 | – 122.5 |
Income from associates | 10.7 | 15.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 26.5 |
Operating profit/loss | 104.1 | 103.5 | 37.0 | – 19.8 | 0.5 | 225.3 |
Financial result | 47.5 | |||||
Profit/loss before income taxes | 272.8 |
1st half-year 2020 CHF millions | Energy | Grid | Services | Other | Consoli- dation | Total |
External revenue | 613.6 | 265.7 | 630.1 | 6.2 | 14.2 | 1,529.8 |
Net sales | 584.0 | 238.0 | 623.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 1,446.1 |
Own work capitalised | 2.0 | 16.9 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 14.2 | 33.6 |
Other operating income | 27.6 | 10.8 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 0.0 | 50.1 |
Internal revenue | 10.3 | 4.3 | 47.0 | 71.4 | – 133.0 | 0.0 |
Net sales | 7.4 | 0.4 | 42.7 | 0.2 | – 50.7 | 0.0 |
Other operating income | 2.9 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 71.2 | – 82.3 | 0.0 |
Total operating income | 623.9 | 270.0 | 677.1 | 77.6 | – 118.8 | 1,529.8 |
Total operating expenses | – 468.5 | – 143.4 | – 625.0 | – 90.0 | 115.8 | – 1,211.1 |
Operating profit before depreciation, amortisation and impairment | 155.4 | 126.6 | 52.1 | – 12.4 | – 3.0 | 318.7 |
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment | – 36.8 | – 42.5 | – 28.7 | – 11.9 | 1.7 | – 118.2 |
Income from associates | 9.2 | 8.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18.1 |
Operating profit/loss | 127.8 | 93.0 | 23.4 | – 24.3 | – 1.3 | 218.6 |
Financial result | – 87.5 | |||||
Profit/loss before income taxes | 131.1 |
6 Net sales
Switzerland | Abroad | Switzerland | Abroad | |
CHF millions | 1st half-year 2020 | 1st half-year 2020 | 1st half-year 2021 | 1st half-year 2021 |
Energy | 303.1 | 280.9 | 337.1 | 316.7 |
Grid | 238.0 | 0.0 | 250.6 | 0.0 |
Services | 420.7 | 202.8 | 459.2 | 227.1 |
Other | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
Total net sales | 962.4 | 483.7 | 1,047.0 | 543.8 |
7 Energy procurement/transport
CHF millions | 1st half-year 2020 | 1st half-year 2021 |
Cost of energy procurement from third parties and associates | 358.3 | 454.1 |
Provision for onerous energy procurement contracts | ||
Provisions used | 0.0 | – 8.8 |
Provisions added | 11.7 | 4.4 |
Total energy procurement expenses | 370.0 | 449.7 |
Energy transport expenses | 49.8 | 50.3 |
Total | 419.8 | 500.0 |
8 Financial result
CHF millions | 1st half-year 2020 | 1st half-year 2021 |
Interest income | 4.8 | 0.8 |
Dividend income | 0.1 | 0.0 |
Value adjustment on state funds | 0.0 | 83.9 |
Reversal of impairment of financial assets | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Net gains on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss | 0.0 | 1.3 |
Currency translations | 0.0 | 0.8 |
Other financial income | 2.9 | 0.6 |
Financial income | 8.0 | 87.4 |
Interest expenses | – 18.3 | – 18.3 |
Capitalised borrowing costs | 0.2 | 0.0 |
Interest on provisions | – 20.3 | – 20.0 |
Value adjustment on state funds | – 51.8 | 0.0 |
Losses from the disposal of financial assets | 0.0 | – 0.2 |
Net losses on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss | – 1.1 | 0.0 |
Impairment of financial assets | 0.0 | 0.1 |
Currency translations | – 2.7 | 0.0 |
Other financial expenses | – 1.5 | – 1.5 |
Financial expenses | – 95.5 | – 39.9 |
Financial result | – 87.5 | 47.5 |
9 Dividend
In accordance with the decision made at the BKW AG Annual General Meeting held on 7 May 2021, a dividend of CHF 2.40 (previous year: CHF 2.20) per share was paid for the 2020 financial year.
10 Assets and liabilities measured at fair value
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are classified according to a hierarchical structure for the purposes of valuation. The allocation is based on the principles described in note 36 of the Financial Report 2020, which remain unchanged. As in the same period last year, there were no transfers between the different levels during the period under review.
CHF millions | Carrying amount at 30.06.2021 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss | ||||
Financial assets (current and non-current) | ||||
Interest in state funds | 1,363.7 | 1,363.7 | ||
Debt instruments | 60.7 | 60.7 | ||
Derivatives (current and non-current) | 445.0 | 445.0 | ||
Inventories | ||||
Certificates (proprietary trading) | 33.4 | 33.4 | ||
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income | ||||
Non-current financial assets | ||||
Equity instruments | 7.6 | 7.6 | ||
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss | ||||
Other financial liabilities (current and non-current) | ||||
Contingent purchase price liabilities in relation to business combinations | 39.9 | 39.9 | ||
Liabilities relating to non-controlling interests | 6.0 | 6.0 | ||
Derivatives (current and non-current) | 503.0 | 503.0 |
In addition, the liabilities on 30 June 2021 include bonds in the amount of CHF 99.1 million (31 December 2020: CHF 100.2 million) as part of a fair value hedge (Level 2) measured at fair value.
CHF millions | Carrying amount at 31.12.2020 | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 |
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss | ||||
Financial assets (current and non-current) | ||||
Interest in state funds | 1,287.0 | 1,287.0 | ||
Debt instruments | 50.4 | 50.4 | ||
Derivatives (current and non-current) | 143.7 | 143.7 | ||
Inventories | ||||
Certificates (proprietary trading) | 11.0 | 11.0 | ||
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income | ||||
Non-current financial assets | ||||
Equity instruments | 7.5 | 7.5 | ||
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss | ||||
Other financial liabilities (current and non-current) | ||||
Contingent purchase price liabilities in relation to business combinations | 56.6 | 56.6 | ||
Liabilities relating to non-controlling interests | 6.8 | 6.8 | ||
Derivatives (current and non-current) | 210.6 | 210.6 |
The Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value developed as follows in the first half of the year:
Equity instruments | Contingent purchase price liabilities | Liabilities to non-controlling interests | ||||
CHF millions | 1st half-year 2020 | 1st half-year 2021 | 1st half-year 2020 | 1st half-year 2021 | 1st half-year 2020 | 1st half-year 2021 |
At 01.01. | 7.2 | 7.5 | 79.0 | 56.6 | 10.8 | 6.8 |
Additions | 0.7 | 0.1 | 7.5 | |||
Disposals | – 0.4 | – 0.1 | – 6.9 | – 26.6 | – 3.6 | – 1.1 |
Value adjustment | ||||||
Transfer to income statement | n/a | n/a | 0.4 | 1.9 | – 0.3 | 0.2 |
Changes in value included in other comprehensive income | 0.1 | 0.1 | – 0.9 | 0.5 | – 0.1 | 0.1 |
At 30.06 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 71.6 | 39.9 | 6.8 | 6.0 |
11 Financial assets and liabilities measured at amortised cost
The carrying amounts of the financial assets correspond closely to the fair values.
Due to short residual terms to maturity, the carrying amounts of financial liabilities at amortised cost correspond approximately to the fair value. A difference exists between these values in respect of the bonds, which are included under financial liabilities. The market price of the bonds (fair value Level 1) as at the reporting date was CHF 976.0 million, while the carrying amount was CHF 893.4 million. On 31 December 2020, the corresponding market price was CHF 982.2 million and the carrying amount CHF 894.0 million.
12 Additional disclosures on the cash flow statement
CHF millions | 31.12.2020 | 30.06.2021 |
Bank and cash balances | 810.1 | 667.8 |
Term deposits | 15.0 | 15.0 |
Total cash and cash equivalents | 825.1 | 682.8 |
CHF millions | 30.06.2020 | 30.06.2021 |
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment | 118.2 | 122.5 |
Income from associates | – 18.1 | – 26.5 |
Financial result | 87.5 | – 47.5 |
Gains/losses from sale of non-current assets | 0.6 | – 3.1 |
Change in non-current provisions (excl. interest and excl. utilisation of nuclear provisions) | 11.8 | 4.9 |
Change in assigned rights of use | – 6.4 | – 6.5 |
Change from the valuation of energy derivatives | 27.5 | – 11.2 |
Other non-cash positions | 9.9 | 15.5 |
Total adjustment for non-cash transactions | 231.0 | 48.1 |
Sub-total “Cash flow from operating activities before utilisation of nuclear provisions”
To ensure better interpretability and comparability of the effective operating cash flow, the “cash flow from operating activities” item includes a sub- total of the cash flow before utilisation of provisions for nuclear decommissioning and waste disposal.
This is because the costs for nuclear decommissioning and waste disposal are incurred with the decommissioning of the Mühleberg Nuclear Power Plant. These costs represent the utilisation of existing provisions and are therefore charged to “cash flow from operating activities” determined in accordance with IAS 7. However, the nuclear decommissioning is not related to BKW’s actual operating performance and reported “cash flow from operating activities” is therefore not a suitable metric for assessing operating cash generation.
Most of the costs for nuclear decommissioning and waste disposal are borne by the state-run decommissioning and waste disposal funds. BKW is thus entitled to a refund of the costs incurred, although the costs incurred and the refund do not coincide chronologically. Both payments into and refunds from the state funds are classified in the cash flow statement as part of “cash flow from investing activities”. There is therefore a discrepancy in the presentation of these directly related cash flows. To adequately interpret cash flow, the corresponding individual items presented separately in the cash flow statement should be considered together. Therefore, the utilisation of provisions with and without claim to refunds is reported separately in “cash flow from operating activities”.