ČEZ Group

ČEZ Group (Czech: 'Skupina ČEZ' České Energetické Závody) is a conglomerate of 96 companies (including the parent company ČEZ, a.s.), 72 of them in the Czech Republic. Its core business is the generation, distribution, trade in, and sales of electricity and heat, trade in and sales of natural gas, and coal extraction. ČEZ Group operates also in Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey. ČEZ, a.s. is listed on Prague Stock Exchange and Warsaw Stock Exchange.

ČEZ Group a.s.
PSE: CEZ
WSE: CEZ
FWB: CEZ
ISINCZ0005112300 Edit this on Wikidata
IndustryEnergy
Founded1992
Headquarters
Prague
,
Czech Republic
Key people
Daniel Beneš (CEO)
Productselectricity generation and distribution, natural gas, cell phone operator
RevenueIncrease US$12.7 billion (2022)[1]
Increase US$4.4 billion (2022)[1]
Increase US$3.5 billion (2022)[1]
Total assetsIncrease US$31 billion (2022)[1]
Total equityIncrease US$8.75 billiion (2022)[1]
OwnerMinistry of Finance (69.78%)
Number of employees
28,727 (2022) Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.cez.cz

ČEZ is the largest utility and biggest public company in Central and Eastern Europe. Its majority shareholder is the Czech government, owning 70% of shares. Its historical political activities have come under scrutiny.[2][3] According to the Economist, "though nominally state-run, many see the power flowing the other way: from CEZ’s board into politics".[4] Capital Group Companies invested 2.98% into ČEZ Group. Since 2011, when Daniel Beneš became the CEO these calls have faded out.[5]

As of late 2010, the EU was investigating the company's activities.[4] Comments made by third parties under the market test have shown no need to materially change the commitments proposed by ČEZ to the European Commission in June 2012. Under the Settlement Agreement, ČEZ undertakes to sell one of five specific power plants with an installed capacity of at least 800 MW.[6]

In January 2013, Albania started a dispute by removing the CEZ license to operate in Albania. In June 2014 both parties agreed to settle a dispute. Albania will pay CEZ 100 million euros by 2018 in yearly installments, an amount roughly equal to CEZ's initial investment.[7]

In February 2013, Bulgarians began to mass protests against the company and two other foreign-owned power distributors, suggesting the government to follow the case of Albania.[8] All three were fined by Bulgarian competition watchdog. However, ČEZ said it had not breached Bulgarian and European laws and would launch an appeal against the ruling in court.

Under CEO Daniel Beneš (since 2011), CEZ Group presented and implemented its new strategy based on three pillars: I. Be among the best in the operation of conventional power facilities and proactively respond to the challenges of the 21st century. II. Offer customers a wide range of products and services addressing their energy needs. III. Strengthen and consolidate ČEZ's position in Central Europe.

In 2015, ČEZ scored first in Deloitte CEE Top 500 according to market cap and fourth in overall ranking [9] and was elected overall winner of the 2015 Euromoney Best Managed Companies Survey for Central and Eastern Europe.[10]

Power stations

ČEZ Group is an operator of various energy sources. Most important energy sources are listed[11] (in the Czech Republic, if not indicated):

In 2015 CEZ operated 2,3 GW of hydro power plants in Europe and Asia, including the biggest pump storages.

Carbon intensity

ČEZ Group has invested more than CZK 200bn in development and in environmental measures during its modern history to increase efficiency and reduce emission of its power plants. Today, the ČEZ brand represents energy producers or suppliers in a total of 7 countries.

Year Production (TWh) Emission (Gt CO2) kg CO2/MWh
2002 54 34.7 643
2003 61 34 557
2004 62 35.71 575
2005 60 33.3 555
2006 66 36.26 553
2007 73 46.85 640
2008 68 40.38 597
2009 65 37.2 569
2010 68 38.8 568
2011 69 38.7 560
2012 69 35.0 509
2013 67 32.0 480
2014 63 28.1 446

Source: Annual Reports[13]

See also: List of European power companies by carbon intensity

Electricity capacity and production
Installed Capacity (MW)
2008200920102011201220132014
14,28814,39515,01815,12215,77915,19916,038

Source:Helgi Library;[14] Presentation for investors - August 2015 [15]

Electricity Production (GWh)
2008200920102011201220132014
67,59565,34468,43369,20968,83266,70963,124

Source:Helgi Library;[14] Presentation for investors - August 2015 [15]

Shareholders and stock listing

In 1994 a minor stake in the company was privatized using voucher privatization. If citizens invested all their vouchers (sold for 1000,- Kčs) in ČEZ, they gained 33 stocks (330 current shares after stock split).[16] In 2007 the Czech government decided to gradually sell another 7% stake of ČEZ on the stock market,[17] but due to the stock price fall during spring 2009, affected by financial crisis, selling was suspended. In 2008 the company decided to repurchase 9% of the company's shares.[18]

As of December 31, 2011, the Czech Republic represented by Ministry of Finance remained the company's largest shareholder with 69.78% stake in the stated capital.[19] Other shareholders included:

The company is traded on the Prague, Warsaw, Frankfurt and RM-SYSTÉM Czech stock exchanges.[19] and since 2001 company is paying annual dividends.

Electric vehicles

The building of a network of public charging stations for electric vehicles got fully underway in 2011. The first public charging station – in front of ČEZ's headquarters in Prague's Duhová Street – opened on November 30, 2011. As of December 2011, seven CEZ Group public charging stations were in operation, in Prague and Chrášťany, Prague-West district.[19] ČEZ's given charities electric cars to use and test. Between 50 and 100 electric cars being made available over the coming years. The first two vehicles – a Fiat Fiorino Combi and a Fiat Fiorino Cargo – went to a senior citizen health care charity based in Prague.[20]

Influence on politics

ČEZ is the largest utility and biggest public company in Central and Eastern Europe. Its influence on the Czech politics and connections to Russia have come under scrutiny.[2][3] According to the Economist, "though nominally state-run, many see the power flowing the other way: from ČEZ’s board into politics".[4]

The management of ČEZ has financed the country's largest political parties – the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the Social Democrats (ČSSD). One analysis points out that the financing has resembled that coming from PPF and J&T, two firms which have been highly active in Russia since the early 1990s (for example, Russia was one of the first international expansion destinations of Home Credit, a PPF-owned lending company) and their senior management is known to have links to the former Czechoslovak StB security service and the Soviet KGB.[3]

A Czech court recently ruled that, as a state-owned company, ČEZ must disclose political activities.[2]

Leaked pictures show politicians across political spectrum, including former Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, holidaying with ČEZ lobbyists in Italy.[4][21]

As of late 2010 the European Union was investigating ČEZ. The company's offices were raided in November 2010.[4][21]

ČEZ was said to have selected a mysterious company called CEEI to construct a billion dollar nuclear storage facility for the Czech Republic. The company's paper trace ends in U.B.I.E, a company registered in Liechtenstein. Russia's honorary consul is named as its director. The company is believed to be under Russian control.[2] CEEI's directors include Václav Klaus's former chief of staff (Jiří Kovář) and a man who is jail for kidnapping.[2]

Since 2011, after Daniel Beneš became CEO calls about political influence have faded out.[5] In 2014, ČEZ Group presented its new strategy based on three pillars: I. Be among the best in the operation of conventional power facilities and proactively respond to the challenges of the 21st century. II. Offer customers a wide range of products and services addressing their energy needs. III. Strengthen and consolidate ČEZ's position in Central Europe. In 2015, ČEZ scored first in Deloitte CEE Top 500 according to market cap and forth in overall ranking.[9]

See also

References
  1. "2022 Annual Financial Report" (PDF). CEZ Group.
  2. Czech Power Games: How Russia Is Rebuilding Influence In The Former Soviet Bloc. RFE/EL. September 26, 2010
  3. Czech Efforts to Reduce Dependence on Russian Energy Faltering by Jiri Kominek, Jamestown Foundation (27 November 2009)
  4. CEZ and Czech energy - No, minister. April 8th 2010. The Economist.
  5. "Perspectives from The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)". Perspectives from The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  6. "Market Test Results Confirm the Settlement Agreement between ČEZ and the European Commission". CEZ Group. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  7. "CEZ Reaches 100 Million-Euro Settlement With Albanian Government". Bloomberg. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  8. "Bulgarians Rise Up against Shocking Electricity, Heating Bills". Novinite.com. Sofia News Agency. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  9. "Deloitte Central Europe 2015 Top 500" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  10. "Best Managed Companies Survey 2015: Press release". Euromoney. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  11. "Energy Regulatory Office - ČEZ, a.s. installed power (31. 12. 2009)". Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  12. "The Largest Wind Farm in Europe Goes Into Trial Operation". CEZ Group. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  13. "Annual reports". CEZ Group. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  14. | http://www.helgilibrary.com/reports/index/cez-at-a-glance-dec-2013-helgi-analytics | 2014-02-09
  15. | http://www.cez.cz/edee/content/file/investors/investment-stories/equity-investors_august2015.pdf | 2015-09-09
  16. "Kuponová privatizace: pokus, který nemá obdoby" (in Czech). iDNES.cz. October 9, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  17. Martina Lustigová (March 3, 2007). "Vláda schválila prodej sedmi procent akcií společnosti ČEZ" (in Czech). Czech Radio. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  18. "Stát navýšil svůj podíl v ČEZ. Na téměř 70 procent" (in Czech). Hospodářské noviny. February 13, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  19. "CEZ Group Annual Report 2011" (PDF). ČEZ. April 3, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  20. "We Obsessively Cover the Green Scene". AutoblogGreen. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  21. Further Reputational Damage to ČEZ As EC Launches Third Inquiry Into Czech Electricity Market. The Global Insight. 23 September 2010
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