FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of May, 2006
Commission File Number: 333-132076
GAS NATURAL SDG, S.A.
(Translation of Registrant’s Name into English)
Av. Portal de L’Angel, 20-22
08002 Barcelona, Spain
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
| Form 20-F x | Form 40-F ¨ |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K
in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
| Yes | ¨ | No | x |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K
in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
| Yes | ¨ | No | x |
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information
contained in this Form, the Registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
| Yes | ¨ | No | x |
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):N/A
| Communications Management |  |
This is a translation of a Spanish language press release.
In case of discrepancies, the Spanish version will prevail.
2006 First Quarter Results
GAS NATURAL’S NET PROFITS ROSE 16.2%
TO 276.7 MILLION EUROS
| • | Consolidatedebitdarose 29.3% to a total of 507.9 million euros. |
| • | The electricity business in Spain, with 3,118 MW operational, the gas distribution activity in Latin America, and the expanding contribution from the gas marketing business are gaining strength as major growth factors. |
| • | GAS NATURAL had 10.3 million gas distribution customers, an increase of 592,000 in one year. |
| • | The distribution business, as a whole, continues to show solid growth and profitability, with a 13% increase inebitda with respect to the first quarter of 2005. |
| • | For the first time ever, the company generated 4,192 GWh of electricity in one quarter, an increase of 133.3%, owing to the start up of new 1,200 MW units. The power generation share grew to 7%. |
GAS NATURAL’snet profit rose to 276.7 million euros in the first quarter of 2006, and grew 16.2% in relation to the same period last year.
Thenet business turnover, from January to March, totaled 3,107.1 million euros, indicating a 51.9% increase over the same period in 2005.
This increased business turnover was basically due to business growth in general, and in particular, the electricity business in Spain, the expansion of natural gas supply, higher consumption compared to the prior year, high gas prices, and the business momentum in Latin America.
Theebitda of GAS NATURAL in the first three months of the year was 507.9 million euros, and rose almost 30% in relation to the prior year.
The distribution business, as a whole, which includes Spain, Latin America and Italy, represented a totalebitda of 65.2% for GAS NATURAL. The biggest contributor in this case was Spain, with a total of 42.8%.
The electricity business in Spain reported strong momentum and represented a totalebitda of 14% for the Group, while upstream and midstream activities, which basically include the Magreb-Europa gas pipeline operation, together represented a totalebitda of 10.8%.
TheGroup’s net borrowings for the quarter were reduced by 218 million euros, and totaled 3,397.2 million euros at 31 March 2006, which put the borrowing ratio at 36.3% as opposed to 38.5% at the close of fiscal year 2005.
Investments of GAS NATURAL during the first quarter totaled 290.4 million euros, a 12.5% increase with respect to the same period last year. Among the noteworthy financial investments was the acquisition of 100% of Petroleum Oil & Gas España.
Distribution in Spain
Theebitdawith respect to the gas distribution business in Spain was 217.6 million euros, 3.3% more than in the first quarter of 2005. That increase was lower than the year-to-year increase in remuneration due partly to the impact of lower tariff sales because of the mild winter in 1Q06 compared to the prior year, and also to the shift by residential customers to the liberalized market. 79% of the customers remained with the Group’s own supply company.
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Regulated gas sales in Spain, which include the distribution and marketing of tariff gas and third party network access services (TPA), totaled 77,762 GWh, 4.6% higher than the prior year.
Distribution services for third party network access (TPA) grew by 9.3% and totaled 59,496 GWh, of which 26,284 GWh related to services provided to third parties and the remaining 33,212 GWh for GAS NATURAL, as the principal operator also in the liberalized market.
Thedistribution network expanded to about 2,500 kilometers during the last 12 months, and surpassed the 40,000 kilometers at 31 March, reflecting a 6.5% year-on-year increase. During the first quarter, GAS NATURAL began to supply nine municipalities. It currently supplies gas in 823 cities and expects to extend the network to more than 50 new cities in 2006.
At 31 March 2006, thenumber of gas distribution customers in Spain was 5,196,000,a 6.6% increase, with a year-on-year increase of 321,000 customers.
Distribution in Latin America
Theebitdawith respect to gas distribution in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico) was 92.5 million euros, a 42.7% increase over the same period last year, due mainly to the improved operating results in all countries.
Gas sales in Latin America, which include sales of gas and third party network access services (TPA), totaled 43,224 GWh, a 9.2% increase over the first quarter of 2005. By country, increases in Colombia and Brazil are highlighted, with 18.2% and 12.4, respectively; and, by market, sales of gas for automotion in the four countries, with a total increase of 14.3%.
Thedistribution network was extended by 2,376 kilometers in the last 12 months, and totaled 56,977 kilometers at 31 March, with a 4.4% year-on-year growth.
At 31 March 2006, gas distribution customer volume in Latin America totaled 4,801,000 ,with a year-on-year increase of 238,000 distribution customers.
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Main physical aggregates by country
| Argentina | Brazil | Colombia | Mexico | Total | ||||||
Gas activity sales (GWh) | 18,224 | 11,283 | 3,024 | 10,693 | 43,224 | |||||
Change vs. 1Q05 (%) | 10.1 | 12.4 | 18.2 | 2.5 | 9.2 | |||||
Distribution network (km at 31/03) | 21,300 | 5,043 | 15,577 | 15,057 | 56,977 | |||||
Change vs. 31/03/05 (km) | 1.5 | 15.6 | 5.3 | 4.1 | 4.4 | |||||
Distribution connections (‘000 at 31/03) | 1,295 | 754 | 1,639 | 1,113 | 4,801 | |||||
Change vs. 31/03/05 (‘000) | 2.5 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 3.1 | 5.2 | |||||
The revival inArgentina was strengthened in the first quarter with a further increase in gas distribution customer numbers and a 10.1% increase in gas sales, with a notable increase in sales to the industrial market and TPA.
InBrazil, the company achieved the largest single increase in the number of connection points since it commenced operations there: 56,000 new customers in the last twelve months. Sales continue to register double-digit growth, as in 2005 and 2004. By sector, sales for automotion surged by 19.4%, with particularly strong growth in the Sao Paulo area.
Growth is double-digit in all markets in Colombia. Sales rose by 18.2% and the customer base expanded in the last 12 months by 118,000 year-on-year to 1,639,000 connection points. Also, in the first quarter of 2006, a total of 5,200 vehicles were converted to run on natural gas, reflecting an increase of 33% over the first quarter in 2005.
Gas sales inMexico increased by just 2.5% due to the negative effect of rising gas prices (referenced to prices in the southern US). The Mexican government is implementing measures to palliate that effect, such as offering certain subsidies to residential customers, which can reduce gas bills by 28%.
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Distribution in Italy
Theebitda for gas distribution in Italywas 20.8 million euros, a 23.8% increase from the prior year.
Thegas distribution business in Italy totaled 1,463 GWh in the first quarter, with double-digit organic growth with respect to 1Q05, confirming that the company’s activities in Italy, which commenced in 2004, are gaining strength.
Commercial activity firmed up with the addition of 33,000 new connection points and intense activity in the Palermo, Catania and Reggio Calabria regions. The company expects to exceed that growth figure in 2006 and add close to 40,000 connection points.
Electricity in Spain
Theelectricity business in Spain produced anebitdaof71 million euros in the first quarter of 2006, which more than triples the figure from the prior year. The power generation business continues to be favored by high pool prices, which averaged €69.12/MWh in 1Q06. GAS NATURAL now has 18 power plants operating under the special regime in the wholesale market.
DERSA generated anebitda of 15 million euros. If we adjust this variation in marginal strength, the electricityebitda would have more than doubled the figures for the same period last year, when DERSA was not yet part of GAS NATURAL.
A total of 4,192 GWhwere generated and sold, primarily to the wholesale market, in 1Q06, 133% more than in 1Q05.
The combined cycle plants generated 3,968 GWh. This output, measured at plant busbars, represents a coverage ratio of 298% of the electricity supplied to customers by GAS NATURAL. GAS NATURAL had a 7.0% share of the “ordinary regime” power generation market in 1Q06.
Electricity marketing in the liberalized market continues to be penalized by higher prices in the first quarter, although average pool prices fell sharply in March
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by more than 25% with respect to February. Nevertheless, the supply business still has to compete with the considerably lower benchmark rate. Consequently, many supply companies are streamlining their customer portfolio in the liberalized market.
In this respect, GAS NATURAL’s portfolio of electricity contracts continued the trend observed in the second half of 2005; in the last twelve months, it has greatly reduced the amount of contracted electricity supply from 4,717 GWh/year to 1,109 GWh/year.
Electricity supply to industrial customers fell 68.6% with respect to the same period last year, while electricity sales to residential customers rose 67.8% for an increase of 470,000 customers in this segment.
Electricity in Puerto Rico
GAS NATURAL’s activities in Puerto Rico provided 18.1 million euros (US$21.7 million) inebitda, 41.4% more than in the first quarter of 2005.
EcoEléctrica generated 658 GWhnet (329 GWh attributable to GAS NATURAL), with a load factor of 60%, i.e. similar to the first quarter of 2005.
Gas Supply:up+midstream
Ebitdafrom gas supply amounted to €54.6 million in 1Q06, 24.4% more than in 1Q05 due basically to a larger contribution from EMPL, despite a slight reduction in the volume transported, greater utilization of the methane tanker fleet (96% vs. 86% in 1Q05), and the dollar’s appreciation.
The gas transportation activity conducted in Morocco, through companies EMPL and Metragaz, represented a total volume of 34,928 GWh in 1Q06, a 4.5% decline with respect to the same period in 2005. Of that figure, 26,884 GWh were transported for GAS NATURAL through Sagane, and 8,044 GWh for Portuguese company Transgas.
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Gas Supply: Wholesale and Retail
Ebitdafrom gas supply in the first quarter of 2006 amounted to €25.1 million, an 85.9% increase. Theebitda from this activity continues the upward trend started in mid-2005, due to measures adopted to favor liberalization and the recognition of raw material costs, convergence towards international prices, plus the commercial policy applied by GAS NATURAL.
Atotal of 96,633 GWhof natural gas was procured and supplied by GAS NATURAL, with an 8.0% increase over the first quarter of 2005; 83,891 GWh were sold in the Spanish market (+10.2%) and the other 12,742 GWh were sold in other countries (-4.6%).
Wholesale gas supplies for the regulated market (sold to Enagás which, in addition to inventory management, supplies the gas to distribution companies (both those in the GAS NATURAL group and third parties), totaled 23, 555 GWH, 1.2% down from the first quarter of 2005. This slight reduction was due to the opening up of the market and because certain industrial customers took shelter in the regulated market.
Sales to the liberalized market amounted to 60,336 GWh, a 15.5% increase on 1Q05. Of those sales, 51,544 GWh, an increase of 25.4%, were to end customers of GAS NATURAL, mainly in the industrial market, as well as to combined cycles and households. Supply to the liberalized market by other gas suppliers totaled 8,792 GWh, a 21.3% decrease.
International wholesale gas procurements fell by 4.6% due to lower sales to the US and a reduction in their frequency with respect to 1Q05.
In GAS NATURAL’s multi-utility area, close to 83,000gas maintenance contracts were added in 2006, making a total of 1,508,000 contracts in force at 31 March 2006.
GAS NATURAL had close to 2,323,000product and service contracts other than for gas sales, which include financial services and the sale of electricity; this represents a 22.2% increase from those in effect on 31 March 2005, putting the ratio at 1.48 contracts per customer in Spain.
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Likewise, because of GAS NATURAL’s marketing efforts, the number ofhomes with gas heating increased by about 7,400, and 8,800appliances were sold, including over 1,400 air conditioning systems.
Barcelona, May 9, 2006.
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Main physical aggregates
| 1Q06 | 1Q05 | % | ||||
Distribution (GWh): | 122,449 | 115,279 | 6.2 | |||
Spain: | 77,762 | 74,372 | 4.6 | |||
Tariff gas sales | 18,266 | 19,940 | -8.4 | |||
TPA | 59,496 | 54,432 | 9.3 | |||
Latin America: | 43,224 | 39,580 | 9.2 | |||
Tariff gas sales | 24,495 | 21,395 | 14.5 | |||
TPA | 18,729 | 18,185 | 3.0 | |||
Italy: | 1,463 | 1,327 | 10.2 | |||
Tariff gas sales | 1,430 | 1,301 | 9.9 | |||
TPA | 33 | 26 | 26.9 | |||
Distribution network (km): | 101,112 | 96,003 | 5.3 | |||
Spain | 40,315 | 37,839 | 6.5 | |||
Latin America | 56,977 | 54,601 | 4.4 | |||
Italy | 3,820 | 3,563 | 7.2 | |||
Increase in gas distribution connections, (‘000) | 109 | 130 | -16.4 | |||
Spain | 62 | 67 | -7.5 | |||
Latin America | 44 | 58 | -24.1 | |||
Italy | 3 | 5 | -40.0 | |||
Gas distribution connections, (‘000) (at 31/03): | 10,287 | 9,695 | 6.1 | |||
Spain | 5,196 | 4,875 | 6.6 | |||
Latin America | 4,801 | 4,563 | 5.2 | |||
Italy | 290 | 257 | 12.8 | |||
Gas supply (GWh): | 96,633 | 89,458 | 8.0 | |||
Spain | 83,891 | 76,103 | 10.2 | |||
International | 12,742 | 13,355 | -4.6 | |||
Gas transportation—EMPL (GWh) | 34,928 | 36,555 | -4.5 | |||
Contracts per customer in Spain (at 31/03) | 1.48 | 1.41 | 5.0 | |||
Electricity generated (GWh): | 4,521 | 2,129 | — | |||
Spain | 4,192 | 1,797 | — | |||
Puerto Rico | 329 | 332 | -0.9 | |||
Installed capacity (MW): | 3,389 | 1,945 | 74.2 | |||
Spain | 3,118 | 1,674 | 86.2 | |||
Puerto Rico | 271 | 271 | — | |||
Employees (at 31/03) | 6,678 | 6,738 | -0.9 | |||
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Consolidated profit and loss account
(unaudited)
(€ Mn) | 1Q06 | 1Q05 | ||
Net sales | 3,107.1 | 2,045.4 | ||
Other revenues | 19.9 | 22.1 | ||
Purchases | -2,371.0 | -1,478.9 | ||
Personnel costs, net | -72.0 | -56.1 | ||
Other costs | -176.1 | -139.6 | ||
EBITDA | 507.9 | 392.9 | ||
Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets | -141.4 | -112.8 | ||
Change in operating provisions | -8.3 | -3.7 | ||
OPERATING INCOME | 358.2 | 276.4 | ||
Financial results, net | -67.5 | -47.9 | ||
Net loss from assets deterioration | — | — | ||
Equity income | 1.5 | 11.5 | ||
Gains on disposal on non current assets | 98.8 | 104.8 | ||
CONSOLIDATED PRE-TAX PROFIT | 391.0 | 344.8 | ||
Corporate income tax | -95.5 | -92.0 | ||
Minority interest | -18.8 | -14.8 | ||
PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE GROUP | 276.7 | 238.0 | ||
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Consolidated balance sheet
(unaudited)
(€ Mn) | 31/03/06 | 31/03/05 | ||
Non-Current Assets- | 10,433.7 | 8,814.5 | ||
Tangible assets | 7,696.9 | 6,662.6 | ||
Goodwill | 450.3 | 341.6 | ||
Other intangible assets | 1,352.4 | 1,025.9 | ||
Investment in associated companies | 33.1 | 251.6 | ||
Other non-current assets | 901.0 | 532.8 | ||
Current Assets- | 3,433.8 | 2,666.9 | ||
Inventories | 350.4 | 197.2 | ||
Debtors and other accounts receivable | 2,659.9 | 2,077.9 | ||
Other current assets | 124.6 | 130.3 | ||
Cash and cash equivalent | 298.9 | 261.5 | ||
TOTAL ASSETS | 13,867.5 | 11,481.4 | ||
(unaudited)
(€ Mn) | 31/03/06 | 31/03/05 | ||
Shareholders’ Equity- | 5,973.4 | 5,097.5 | ||
Equity of Parent Company | 5,618.7 | 4,856.6 | ||
Minority interest | 354.7 | 240.9 | ||
Non-Current Liabilities- | 4,787.9 | 3,797.1 | ||
Non-current financial debt | 2,948.4 | 2,369.0 | ||
Provisions | 442.4 | 259.2 | ||
Other non-current liabilities | 1,397.1 | 1,168.9 | ||
Current Liabilities- | 3,106.2 | 2,586.8 | ||
Current financial debt | 747.7 | 512.7 | ||
Accounts payable and other current liabilities | 2,358.5 | 2,074.1 | ||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 13,867.5 | 11,481.4 | ||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| GAS NATURAL SDG, S.A. | ||||||
| Date: May 9, 2006 | By: | /s/ Carlos J. Álvarez Fernández | ||||
| Name: Carlos J. Álvarez Fernández | ||||||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||||||