News
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12/02/2018Iberdrola among the world’s most ethical companies by Ethisphere Institute For the fifth consecutive year Iberdrola has been selected as one of the most ethical companies in the world, according to the 2018 World´s Most Ethical Companies, ranking prepared by the Ethisphere Institute, setting the standards of best business practices. Iberdrola is the only Spanish company in this ranking, in which it features within the Energy and Utilities category together with only five other multinationals. The Ethisphere Institute began compiling this ranking in 2007, with the purpose of acknowledging the role of those companies dedicated to promoting ethical culture in the global corporate community. In this new 2018 edition, a total of 135 companies from 23 countries and 57 productive sectors have been recognised as the world’s most ethical businesses. According to the Institute, the companies selected in the ranking have record levels of involvement with their stakeholders and are truly committed to the maximum levels of transparency, diversity and inclusion. When compiling the 2018 World´s Most Ethical Companies, ranking, the Ethisphere Institute assessed five categories: ethics and compliance (35%); corporate social responsibility (20%); ethical culture (20%); corporate governance (15%) and leadership (10%). The CEO of Ethisphere, Timothy Erblich, congratulated the selected companies by saying that “while the worldwide discourse underwent profound change throughout 2017, a stronger voice has emerged. “Global corporations operating under a common rule of law are now the most powerful social force for improving the human condition. The world’s most ethical companies have continued to be an example of leadership.” READ MORE
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09/02/2018Ente Vasco de la Energía, Iberdrola and the Provincial Government of Bizkaia maintain their commitment to digitising the electrical grid with Bidelek 4.0 The Basque Government's Minister for Economic Development and Infrastructure and the Chairwoman of Ente Vasco de la Energía (EVE), Arantza Tapia, the Chairman of Iberdrola Group Networks Business, Armando Martínez, and the Provincial Government of Bizkaia Minister for Economic and Regional Development, Imanol Pradales, today signed a Partnership Protocol, underlining their commitment to continue to drive digital transformation in the distribution network in the Basque Country which began with Bidelek Sareak. The project, which goes under the name Bidelek 4.0, represents a joint investment of approximately 30.5 million Euros over the next three years. The protocol signed today at the Torre Iberdrola outlines the roles for each of the parties: * The Basque Government, through EVE, the Basque Energy Board, will be responsible for promoting the participation of companies from the region in the development of new technologies and their participation in their roll-out. They will be supervising the fulfilment of pledges regarding energy efficiency and savings and improved service quality for consumers. * Iberdrola Distribución Eléctrica will head up the technological side of this digital transformation of the grid, making available its main assets in the Basque Country, ensuring that its investment underlines its position as a cutting-edge electricity company. * The Provincial Government of Bizkaia will be contributing its promotional and technological development programmes to the projects, as well as offering support to demonstration projects. At the presentation of the project, the EVE Chairwoman and the Basque Government's Minister for Economic Development and Infrastructure, Arantza Tapia highlighted the capacity to find consensus among the public-private participants in order to ensure that the Basque Country can boast a world-leading level of digitisation, with a technology developed by Basque companies who have become international reference points in terms of smart electricity grids after Bidelek Sareak's success. For his part, Armando Martínez, the Chairman of Iberdrola Group Networks Business, said that “after the success of the first phase of the Bidelek project, which has positioned numerous companies at the forefront of the sector at an international level, we begin this second phase, going further with the digitisation of networks and continuing to create important benefits for our customers and society in general. I would like to highlight the fact that Bidelek is an initiative that exists within the framework of Iberdrola's commitment to an ongoing implementation of smart grids, which has seen the company invest over 1.4 billion Euros in the state over recent years.” Imanol Pradales, the Provincial Government of Bizkaia Minister for Economic and Regional Development, has also underlined the significance of continuing to forge alliances, working together in the energy sector which is of such strategic importance to the Basque Country, exploiting the region's advantageous fiscal framework: “This is a sector that brings together driving-force companies and SMEs, with a high level of internationalization and a strong investment in R+D+i. In short, this is a highly competitive sector”. The Bidelek 4.0 project highlights the Basque government's commitment to driving industrial and technological development of future energy networks within the framework of the Industrialisation Plan approved by the Basque Parliament and the 3E2030 Energy Strategy, which seeks to diversify energy sources and reduce the use of oil derivatives. The investment of over 30 million Euros required by this new roll-out of smart grids will be implemented by a new joint venture between Iberdrola and EVE, the Basque Energy Board. This investment will serve as an impulse for the development of local industry through the innovation and design of future equipment and solutions, allowing Basque industry to maintain its position at the forefront of technology worldwide. The solutions developed through Bidelek 4.0 will have a great opportunity, as they will be used by Iberdrola in its commitment to implement more networks and smarter grids as its path toward advancing toward energy transition toward a decarbonised economy. Ambitious targets The main strategic aims of this initiative are: * To ensure that the widest possible digitisation of electricity grids means an efficient integration of self-consumption and other distributed energy resources, offering new services to customers who are increasingly better informed and more aware of efficiency and sustainability. * To show the path that will turn distribution networks into a vehicle capable of guaranteeing a transition toward clean and sustainable energy. * To demonstrate the role of new technological solutions that increase the quality of the service and the added value that electricity offers customers. * To put into practice the evolution of the current electricity distributor toward its future role as Distribution System Operators. * To maintain Basque industry's position as far as energy capital goods are concerned. Ensuring an electricity grid that continues to be more reliable, flexible and digitised, supported by a regulatory framework, is the guarantee of a better future for everyone. The quality of Iberdrola service has massively improved, with the time required to recover service after an incident halved. This is the result of working together on Bidelek and the significant investment in smart grids that has been made over recent years. Moreover, the majority of customer operations are carried out automatically and immediately. READ MORE
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07/02/2018Iberdrola ilumina el taller de restauración de la Real Fábrica de Tapices con la más avanzada tecnología LED Iberdrola y la Real Fábrica de Tapices han completado la renovación del sistema de iluminación del taller de restauración de esta institución, fundada a principios del siglo XVIII por Felipe V, después de haber llevado a cabo un amplio proceso de transformación con la más avanzada tecnología LED, acorde con las necesidades y la relevancia del taller. El director de la Fundación Iberdrola España, Ramón Castresana, y el director de la Real Fábrica de Tapices, Alejandro Klecker, han visitado el nuevo sistema de iluminación del taller, que va a permitir reducir el consumo eléctrico en más de un 47% y un ahorro de emisiones de CO2 cercano a las 3,5 toneladas al año. Durante el recorrido, también les ha acompañado Antonio Sama, conservador de la Real Fábrica de Tapices. Durante la visita, Ramón Castresana ha resaltado que esta actuación en la Real Fábrica de Tapices se desarrolla dentro del programa de iluminaciones que lleva a cabo Iberdrola a través de su Fundación en España, que se enmarca dentro del compromiso de la compañía con el desarrollo económico y social de todos los territorios donde opera la compañía. “Con este moderno equipamiento y mismo nivel de intensidad en todas las zonas de trabajo del taller, los restauradores pueden apreciar el matiz de cada uno de los colores de tapices tejidos hace más de 500 años”, ha asegurado Castresana en referencia a los tapices flamencos de la colección del Colegio del Patriarca de Valencia. Tecnología LED de última generación Asimismo, el director de la Fundación Iberdrola España ha destacado que el trabajo se ha realizado aplicando las más modernas tecnologías LED, lo que garantiza la sostenibilidad de la instalación, uno de los objetivos prioritarios para Iberdrola, comprometida firmemente con el cuidado del medio ambiente y la lucha contra el cambio climático. Alejandro Kleker ha explicado, por su parte, que “en el proceso de transformación del taller de restauración de la Real Fábrica de Tapices lo más importante era la nueva iluminación, porque se trabajaba en unas condiciones francamente malas”. Klecker ha añadido que “hemos resuelto la iluminación ambiente y la iluminación de los puestos de trabajo, apostando por un diseño nuevo de luz LED para que los restauradores tengan el mínimo cansancio para la vista”. Para el director de la Real Fábrica de Tapices, esta nueva y moderna solución tecnológica “va a sentar precedente entre las salas de restauración, porque no hay muchas fábricas en el mundo, y menos relacionadas con el sector textil, que tengan ahora mismo un sistema de iluminación como éste”. Por otro lado, Antonio Sama, conservador de la Real Fábrica de Tapices, ha explicado que se ha instalado “la iluminación ideal para preservar los textiles con los que trabajamos y, a la vez, ahorrar en consumo. Todo va a redundar en una mejora de la eficiencia y las condiciones de conservación de las piezas en las que trabajemos”. Iberdrola y la Real Fábrica de Tapices firmaron un convenio en 2017 para la renovación de la iluminación del taller de restauración, continuando así con una colaboración que comenzó en 2013 con la restauración de los tapices del Patriarca, una serie de paños de grandes dimensiones de principios de siglo XVI que fueron donados al Real Colegio de Corpus Christi de Valencia. Para el proyecto de iluminación del taller de restauración, la compañía ha instalado un total de 28 lámparas LED, más eficientes y sostenibles, que se han suspendido de las estructuras del techo, mejorando sustancialmente la iluminación general de la sala. Además, se ha añadido una iluminación de refuerzo en seis mesas de trabajo, a través del diseño y montaje de unas estructuras metálicas a medida, que proporcionan, por un lado, una reproducción cromática superior al 98% y, por otro, una uniformidad luminosa de más del 80%. Estas estructuras incluyen asimismo la posibilidad de regular el nivel lumínico, según las necesidades de cada restaurador. Anteriormente, la iluminación constaba de 28 focos halógenos y ocho fluorescentes con una potencia total de 11.488 W. Tras la renovación se ha logrado reducir el consumo más de un 47%. Por último, también se ha dotado de nueva iluminación a la Sala de Tintado a través de 12 lámparas LED, que proporcionan la misma temperatura de color y reproducción cromática del taller. Sobre la Real Fábrica de Tapices Fundada en el año 1721, la Real Fábrica de Tapices cuenta con 300 años de experiencia en la fabricación y restauración de alfombras, tapices y reposteros. A principios del siglo XVIII, la manufactura se convirtió en un referente europeo para la fabricación de tejidos de lujo, gracias a la colaboración entre tejedores y pintores de la talla de Mengs, Bayeu o Goya. Ya en 1889, el crecimiento urbano de Madrid determinó el traslado de la manufactura al extrarradio de la capital. El emplazamiento elegido fue un terreno conocido como el olivar y huerta de Atocha, lugar en el que continúa hasta día de hoy la Real Fábrica de Tapices. En 1996, la manufactura se convirtió en la Fundación Real Fábrica de Tapices. Sus fines son el mantenimiento de los oficios artesanales, la conservación y restauración del patrimonio textil del Estado español y el fomento, en general, de todas las actividades culturales que contribuyan al conocimiento del arte de la tapicería. Iberdrola con la cultura Iberdrola lleva a cabo intervenciones en monumentos artísticos y edificios singulares para instalar o mejorar iluminaciones de interior y/o exterior con el fin de contribuir a la puesta en valor del patrimonio histórico-artístico y a mejorar la eficiencia energética de estos sistemas. Un ejemplo de este tipo de acciones es Iluminando el Prado/Lighting the Prado, el proyecto integral de iluminación del Museo del Prado con tecnología LED. Se trata de una iniciativa pionera en el territorio nacional y de referencia en toda Europa. Además, la compañía, a través de su fundación en España, desarrolla su trabajo en cuatro grandes áreas de actuación: formación e investigación; biodiversidad, arte y cultura y cooperación y solidaridad. En el área de apoyo a la formación destaca el Programa Internacional de Becas Máster; en el ámbito de la biodiversidad cabe subrayar el Programa Migra (www.migraciondeaves.org ); en el área de conservación del patrimonio histórico-artístico desarrolla, además del Programa de Iluminaciones, relevantes proyectos como el Plan Románico Atlántico (www.romanicoatlantico.org ); y, por último, en el área de cooperación y solidaridad sobresale su Programa de Ayudas Sociales, mediante el que ha impulsado hasta la fecha más de 300 proyectos con un impacto medio anual de 45.000 beneficiarios. READ MORE
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01/02/2018Iberdrola offers over 100 scholarships and research grants in five countries IBERDROLA has launched a new call for applications for scholarships and research grants for the 2018-2019 academic year, with the goal of promoting excellence in training the upcoming generations and employability with the company in strategic areas like innovation and technological development. This year, the company plans to award a total of 108 grants to Spanish, British, American, Mexican and Brazilian students, for which it will earmark almost 3 million euros. To date, thanks to Iberdrola’s firm commitment to education, more than 750 young people have studied on master’s and postgraduate courses and done research at prestigious international universities. International Scholarship Programme In this new edition, Iberdrola is offering a total of 70 scholarships for master’s degrees to graduates and final year students in Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Mexico and Brazil, for an investment of close to €2 million. With this initiative, Iberdrola hopes to improve the professional qualifications of young people in different areas of knowledge, such as engineering, intelligent networks, renewables, sustainability, energy and the environment, information technologies, big data and cyber-security. The enrolment process for this new call for applications opens today and will remain open until 2 March next. Interested parties can learn about the conditions and fill in the application form on the Fundación Iberdrola website in the ‘People and talent’ section. To select the candidates, in addition to their academic record and languages, other factors, such as their curriculum vitae, the interest of their research project and reference letters, will be taken into account. After passing the pre-selection stage, the company will conduct a personal interview with the candidates in order to evaluate their personal situation, overall education and motivation. Scholarships for Master's Studies in Spain Iberdrola plans to award 25 new scholarships for master’s degrees in Spain, United Kingdom or United States during the 2018-2019 academic year. These grants are intended for students who are Spanish citizens or residents. Those who are selected will be able to study at some excellent universities, both regional and international, including Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Universidad del País Vasco, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Universidad de Salamanca, Universidad de Zaragoza, University of Connecticut, University of Edinburgh, University of Stratchclyde and University of Rochester. The scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and an additional annual grant for transport and accommodation expenses worth between €10,020 and €24,000 will be awarded, depending on whether the master’s course is in Spain, United Kingdom or United States. In the last of these countries, a travel scholarship of €1,500 will be added to cover the cost of a round-trip transatlantic flight. Scholarships for Master's Studies in United Kingdom As part of its International Scholarship Programme, Iberdrola also offers a total of 16 scholarships in Britain to students who are British citizens or residents for the 2018-2019 academic year. Applicants can choose between seven prestigious British institutions: Imperial College of London, University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde, University of Liverpool and University of Glasgow, University of East Anglia and University of Cambridge. The scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and an additional annual grant worth €16,500 will be awarded to cover transport and accommodation expenses. Scholarships for Master's Studies in United States Iberdrola plans to award 10 new scholarships for master’s degrees in the United States during the 2018-2019 academic year. These grants are intended for students who are United States citizens or residents. Those who are selected will be able to study for their masters at the University of Rochester, University of Maine, Binghamton University, University of Oregon, University of Yale, Rochester Institute of technology, Cornell University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and an additional annual grant worth €23,300 will be awarded to cover transport and accommodation expenses, when necessary. Scholarships for Master's Studies in Mexico Iberdrola also offers a total of 10 scholarships to students who are Mexican citizens or residents to cover postgraduate studies in Mexico or Spain for a period of two years (2018-2020). Those who are selected will be able to study at some excellent universities, both regional and international, including Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Universidad Anáhuac, Universidad Panamericana, Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Tamaulipas, Universidad Humanistas, Universidad Iberoamericana, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México and Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. The scholarship will provide an annual grant for accommodation, maintenance and transport expenses of approximately €2,600 to €10,800, depending on the individual’s place of residence and where the master’s will be taught. Scholarships for Master's Studies in Brazil As part of its International Scholarship Programme, Iberdrola also offers a total of nine scholarships to students who are Brazilian citizens or residents for the 2018-2019 academic year. Those selected will be able to study at Universidad Pontificia de Comillas, Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Universidad del País Vasco, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Universidad de Zaragoza, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde, University of Liverpool, University of Glasgow, University of East Anglia and University of Cambridge. The scholarship will provide almost €9,000 a year to cover tuition, transport and accommodation expenses in Spain and around €15,300 a year in the United Kingdom. Grants to complete research in Energy and Environment in Spain In addition, this year Fundación Iberdrola España will support up to 20 research projects at research centres or universities in Spain. The enrolment process for this new call for applications opens today and will remain open until 2 April next. Interested parties can learn about the conditions and fill in the application form on the Fundación Iberdrola España website. With these grants, the company is seeking to promote research in areas related with energy and environmental sustainability. A new feature for this academic year is innovation in access to modern forms of energy and the fight against climate change to overcome poverty and promote human development. Applicants will have to be assessed by the team and by the centre where the research is to be conducted. Each grant will be worth a maximum of €20,000 per project and will last for one year. This initiative is based on IBERDROLA’s commitment to strengthening ties between private enterprise and the research community, as well as its support for technological development with a view to transforming the energy model. Iberdrola-Fulbright and Fundación Carolina scholarships In addition to the above calls for applications, Fundación Iberdrola España also collaborates with other institutions in the area of energy and environment. For example, the Fulbright Commission has once again announced the Iberdrola-Fulbright scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic year as part of its international academic offering. Students wishing to apply can read about all the conditions that apply to the call and submit their applications via the www.fulbright.es website before 15 March next. Again with the support of Fundación Iberdrola España, the Fundación Carolina will be granting nine scholarships for master’s level studies in areas linked to energy and environment at Spanish universities. In this case, eligibility is extended to include students from any Ibero-American country. Those wishing to apply can read about all the conditions that apply to the call and submit their applications via the www.fundacioncarolina.es website by 20 March. The Scholarship Programme also includes grants for training and research at the Prado Museum in Madrid and the Museum of Fine Arts in Bilbao. These grants will enable future experts to complete their training at the highest possible level by taking part in the conservation and restoration schemes run by these institutions. IBERDROLA, committed to society As part of its commitment to the territories where it has operations, Iberdrola supports the creation and sharing of knowledge in order to help train a generation of highly-skilled professionals and find them their first job. With its International Scholarship Programme and Research Grants, Iberdrola is contributing to reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030, which are included in its company strategy. With this aid, the company is focusing its efforts on meeting goals number 13 (climate action), 7 (affordable and clean energy) and quality education (goal 4). READ MORE
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31/01/2018Iberdrola awards maintenance of 4,425 MW wind capacity in the Iberian Peninsula for €110 million Iberdrola, through its subsidiary Iberdrola Renovables Energía S.A.U, has concluded the tendering process for the maintenance of a large portion of its wind turbine fleet, namely 4,425 megawatts (MW) operated in the Iberian Peninsula. The framework agreements have a combined value of €110 million and duration between two to three years, depending on the type of services which have been allocated. Negotiations for this tendering process took place over the past six months and the key winners are Vestas and Gamesa who will carry out preventive, predictive and corrective maintenance for 2,190 MW and 1,265 MW respectively at wind farms in Spain and Portugal. In addition, Iberdrola will hire the services of Basque companies Ingeteam (233.3 MW) and Tamoin (421 MW), the Galician company IM Future (218 MW) and the Portuguese company Efacec (96.9 MW). All the facilities asubject to the framework agreements are equipped with Gamesa G4X, G5X and G6X wind technology. Iberdrola tendered two types of services: basic maintenance, for a two-year period, and the risk service for three years which includes preventive and small corrective maintenance in addition to consumables, spare parts and predictive maintenance of oil use. The selection of bids was done by Iberdrola in accordance with strict criteria based on safety, technical expertise and commercial competitiveness. Iberdrola is the leading wind power operator in Spain, with 5,507 MW installed capacity at year-end, while owning 92 MW in Portugal. READ MORE
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29/01/2018Iberdrola extends two multicurrency syndicated loans for €5.3 billion with the best conditions since 2007 Iberdrola Chairman, Ignacio Galán, concluded this morning the extension of two multicurrency syndicated loans for €5.3 billion with representatives from 24 financial institutions. The agreement, which was signed in the company’s Madrid headquarters, involves the extension of two lines of credit amounting to €4.4 billion euros and their expansion by an extra €900 million. Thus, the company continues to adapt liquidity to its €25 billion investment plan for the 2016-2020 period while fulfilling the commitment to maintain liquidity above €9 billion. This transaction improves prior conditions and marks the return to pre-crisis levels. The spread is up to 27.5 basis points over IBOR, as opposed to the 30 basis-point differential from the last line of credit signed in June of 2016. Maturity is five years, with the possibility of a two-year extension, until February 2025. These conditions are linked to the fulfilment of a sustainability indicator, to be verified by independent agency Vigeo Eiris , related to the reduction of Iberdrola’s emissions. This is the world’s largest sustainable finance transaction to date. BBVA is acting as agent bank for the expansion and extension of the two syndicated loans, which from the outset received the backing of 100% of the participating financial institutions. Socially responsible finance strategy Iberdrola thus continues to make progress in its strategy of socially responsible finance. The company was the largest issuer of corporate green bonds in 2016 and all of its public issues throughout 2017 were green, including the hybrid bond placed last November. Also, last year saw the world’s first ever green loan for an energy company, signed between Iberdrola and BBVA for €500 million. Sustainable finance is part of Iberdrola’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2030 which the company has incorporated into its strategy. Specifically, Iberdrola is focused on goals number 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13 (climate action). READ MORE
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29/01/2018The 88% of Iberdrola’s share capital chooses to receive new shares in the group free of charge, one of the highest percentages since the Scrip Dividend: "Iberdrola Dividendo Flexible" scheme was launched IBERDROLA notified the Spanish National Stock Market Commission (CNMV) today of the result of the most recent edition of its Scrip Dividend: " Iberdrola Dividendo Flexible" scheme, corresponding to the 2017 interim dividend. In this new edition of Scrip Dividend: "Iberdrola Dividendo Flexible", the company once again offered its shareholders the possibility of choosing between receiving their returns in cash or in the form of new shares in the company, with no charges or commissions. On this occasion, 88% of the share capital of Iberdrola has opted to receive new shares in the company, just slightly below the highest percentage recorded since Scrip Dividend: "Iberdrola Dividendo Flexible" was launched in June 2010, occurring in 2016. This thus confirms shareholder confidence in the management team at Iberdrola and in the positive share price performance by the group, which has now consolidated its position as one of the leading utilities in the world by market cap. To cover the result of this new edition of the scheme, Iberdrola will issue 120,859,000 new shares, thus increasing the company’s capital by 1.913%. Ordinary trading with these new shares is expected to commence on 7 February. Cash dividen In this new edition of the Scrip Dividend: "Iberdrola Dividendo Flexible", approved by the Board of Directors in November, for the first time shareholders were given the option to receive their remuneration directly in cash, without having to sell their rights of cost-free allocation to the company or on the market. This option is in addition to the usual options available to Iberdrola shareholders: to sell their rights of allocation on the market or to the company at a guaranteed fixed price, pursuant to the rights purchase commitment undertaken by the company or, lastly, to receive new bonus shares in the group free of charge. On this occasion, the amount received both by those selling their rights to Iberdrola and those opting for the cash dividend was 0.14 euros gross per share, 3.7% more than the January 2017 payment. The option to sell rights to Iberdrola at a guaranteed fixed price is expected to be fully replaced by cash payment of the dividend in July 2018, within the framework of the traditional final dividend payment against 2017 results. This proposal must be submitted for the approval of the next General Shareholders’ Meeting. Thus, the holders of 699,283,602 rights of cost-free allocation preferred to accept the purchase commitment undertaken by Iberdrola, set at 0.14 euros gross per share. As a result, the company has acquired the aforementioned rights for a total gross amount of €97,899,704.28. Furthermore, the holders of 58,717,340 shares preferred to collect their remuneration directly in cash, also at 0.14 euros gross per share. Thus, the amount paid out in dividends comes to €8,220,427.60. READ MORE
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25/01/2018Iberdrola has gotten more than 45,000 customers to contribute to cancer research through their bills In a ceremony held at the AECC offices in Madrid, Ignacio Galán and the Chairman of the Spanish Cancer Association (AECC), Ignacio Muñoz Pidal, renewed the collaboration agreement signed in 2015 for their two institutions to work together on disseminating information and organising awareness campaigns. The key goal is to increase the amount of needed money and work that goes towards cancer research. As part of the agreement, Iberdrola has launchedTogether against Cancer , a pioneering charity initiative in Spain in which the electricity company invites customers to make a monthly contribution to the AECC through their electricity or gas bills. Iberdrola promises to match its customers’ chosen contribution, which may be 25 cents, 50 cents or €1 a month. This campaign targets Iberdrola customers in Spain on the free market: roughly 7.3 million people. After the first year, the company has gotten roughly 45,000 customers to join the initiative. Bearing in mind that the company matches each customer's donation, this means nearly €200,000 will go entirely to cancer research. By renewing their agreement, the two institutions will continue to work together until late 2020 with that very same goal: to carry on raising needed resources for cancer research. Over the last two years collaborating with the AECC, Iberdrola has carried out a number of activities to get thousands of people involved in its social commitment, as well as raising awareness among the population at large of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and investing in research. In 2017, Iberdrola took part in the AECC On the Go races, organised by the association in Valladolid, with over 45,000 racers; in Madrid,– –with 15,000 racers; and in Murcia, –with roughly 5,000 participants. The company has also been involved in activities to celebrate World Cancer Day on 4 February and World Cancer Research Day on 24 September. AECC, 64 years’ experience in combating cancer The AECC is a private not-for-profit organisation with public utility status that has been working to combat cancer for 63 years. The AECC is made up of patients, their relatives, volunteers and professionals that work together in order to prevent cancer, raise awareness, provide support to patients and raise funds for oncology research projects that will enable better cancer diagnosis and treatment. Quality oncology research is one of the priority goals of the AECC. It is currently the private social body that allocates the most funds towards cancer research, with a total of €40 million earmarked for 250 ongoing projects since 2011. The AECC provided support to over 465,686 people affected by the disease in the year 2016. IBERDROLA, committed to society With this pioneering project, Iberdrola reaffirms its commitment to society in initiatives that enhance quality of life: not just for those within its own organisation, but for the general public, as proof of its contribution to sustainable development. Iberdrola has incorporated the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) into its corporate strategy. The Group is focusing its efforts on goals 7 and 13 –(Affordable and Clean Energy, and Climate Action), but also strives to support compliance with all other goals. In this regard, its collaboration with the AECC is a step towards achieving SDG 3, which focuses on good health and wellness, and SDG 17 for the creation of partnerships to help achieve the goals. READ MORE
