Ellomay Capital Reports Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year of 2017

TEL AVIV, Israel, March 29, 2018

Change in Presentation Currency

Effective December 31, 2017, the Company changed its presentation currency from the United States dollar to the euro. The Company ceased using the U.S. dollar as its presentation currency to assist investors to evaluate its financial results as the Company's functional currency is the euro and a substantial portion of its assets, revenues and liabilities is denominated in euro. Furthermore, the change is expected to reduce the impact of the volatility of the euro/USD exchange rate on the Company's operating results. The consolidated financial results for all prior years presented have been translated into euro.

Due to the change in presentation currency and the cancellation of the translation adjustments reserve, the Company's equity as of December 31, 2017 reflects a one-time decrease in the aggregate amount of approximately €6.8 million. This decrease is comprised of amounts that would have been included in the translation adjustments reserve prior to the change in presentation currency as follows: (i) finance expenses in the amount of approximately €3.2 million recorded in connection with euro/ US$ forward contracts previously executed by the Company in order to reduce the effect of the euro/ US$ exchange rate fluctuations on its results, a significant portion of which were closed following the change in presentation currency, and (ii) foreign currency euro/ US$ translation adjustments in the amount of approximately €3.6 million recorded in connection with the Company's cash reserves and marketable securities, that were held in US$ and majority of which were converted into euro following the change of presentation currency.

Financial Highlights

• Revenues were approximately €13.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, representing an increase of 17%. The increase in revenues is mainly a result of higher electricity spot rates and higher radiation levels in Italy and Spain during the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, as 2016 was characterized by low levels of radiation. In addition, the revenues for 2017 reflect the commencement of operations of a waste-to-energy project in the Netherlands and the results of the Talmei Yosef project since the acquisition date (i.e., the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2017).
• Operating expenses were approximately €2.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €2.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in operating expenses is mainly attributable to an insurance indemnification received in 2016 that partially offset operating expenses for that year and to additional operating expenses resulting from the commencement of operations of a waste-to-energy project in the Netherlands and from the acquisition of the Talmei Yosef project. Depreciation expenses were approximately €4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.
• Project development costs were approximately €2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in project development expenses is mainly attributable to consultancy expenses in connection with the acquisition of the Talmei Yosef project in October 2017 and expenses in connection with the Talasol project.
• General and administrative expenses were approximately €2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in general and administrative expenses resulted mainly from adjustments in 2016 made in connection with dissolutions of non-operating subsidiaries that reduced 2016 general and administrative expenses and from increased expenses in 2017 resulting from the commencement of operations of a waste-to-energy project in the Netherlands and the acquisition of the Talmei Yosef project.
• Share of profits of equity accounted investee, after elimination of intercompany transactions, was approximately €1.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €1.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in the Company's share of profit of equity accounted investee is mainly attributable to an increase in sales of electricity to Dorad's customers, resulting in an increase in operating profit, partially offset by legal expenses incurred by U. Dori Energy Infrastructures Ltd., in which the Company holds 50%, in connection with legal proceedings in which Dorad's shareholders are involved.
• Operating profit was approximately €3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, representing an increase of 25%.
• Financing expenses, net was approximately €9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in financing expenses was mainly due to: (i) the reevaluation of the Company's euro/ US$ forward transactions and marketable securities in the aggregate loss amount of approximately €3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to a profit of approximately €0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, and (ii) expenses in connection with exchange rate differences amounting to approximately €3.6million in the year ended December 31, 2017, mainly in connection with US dollar denominated cash and marketable securities, resulting from exchange rate differences caused by the 14% revaluation of the euro against the US$ during 2017, compared to approximately €0.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Following the change of presentation currency, the Company converted the majority of its cash and marketable securities from US dollar to euro.
• Taxes on income were approximately €0.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €0.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2016. This decrease in taxes on income compared to the corresponding period in 2016 resulted mainly from the adjustment of a provision in connection with estimated tax liabilities, partially offset by expenses resulting from the decrease of loss carry forwards for several of the Company's Italian subsidiaries following a tax inspection.
• Loss for the year was approximately €6.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.
• Total other comprehensive loss was approximately €0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to a profit of approximately €0.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2016. The change was mainly due to changes in fair value of cash flow hedges and from foreign currency translation differences on New Israeli Shekel denominated operations, as a result of fluctuations in the euro/NIS exchange rates.
• Total comprehensive loss was approximately €6.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to total comprehensive loss of approximately €0.06 million in the year ended December 31, 2016.
• Total equity was approximately €77.5 million as of December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €84.4 million as of December 31, 2016. The decrease in total equity was mainly due to increased financing expenses as a result of the reevaluation of the Company's euro/ US$ forward transactions and increased expenses resulting from exchange rate differences.
• EBITDA was approximately €7.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €6.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase in EBITDA is mainly due to increased revenues and an increase in gross and operating margin.
• Net cash from operating activities was approximately €2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, compared to approximately €7.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease in net cash from operating activities is mainly attributable to interest payment received during 2016 on a loan to an equity accounted investee.
• On October 18, 2017, the Company completed the purchase of the Talmei Yosef project. Therefore, the results of the Talmei Yosef project are only partially included in the results for the twelve month periods ended December 31, 2017.
• As of March 1, 2018, the Company held approximately €25.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, approximately €2.2 million in marketable securities and approximately €6.8 million in restricted short-term and long-term cash and marketable securities.
• Estimated 2018 CF projection from projects are:
• Consideration for sale of electricity and gas of €21.9 million.
• Total 2018 estimated net cash flow from projects (including Dorad) of €11.8 million.

For more information concerning the Company's cash flow projections see the Company's Immediate Report on Form 6-K furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2017.

Ran Fridrich, CEO and a board member of Ellomay commented: "Ellomay continues improving the performance of its portfolio of operating projects, presenting a 17% increase in revenues, a 25% increase in operating profit compared to 2016 and a strong cash flow from operations. 2017 was characterized by intensive project development activities, including the Talasol project in Spain, the bio-gas projects in the Netherlands, the successful acquisition of the Talmei Yosef photovoltaic project in Israel and the continuing development of the Manara pumped storage project in its new 156 MW configuration." Mr. Fridrich continued: "The Company decided to change its presentation currency from the US$ to euro as the majority of the Company's projects are in Europe and the remainder is in Israel, this change will assist in simplifying the understanding of the Company's financial situation."