Abertis has announced improvements in all its key figures in the first nine months of 2016: EBITDA rose by 13% to €2,407 million (US$2.9 billion) and revenues by 9% to €3,612 million, largely thanks to the growth in traffic and the change in the consolidation scope. Net profit totalled €718 million, up 10% in like-for-like terms since comparison of net profit between 2015 and 2016 is shaped by the capital gains from the listing of 66% of Cellnex Telecom in May 2015.

Consolidated figures in this period were affected by the negative exchange rate trends in Latin America (Brazil, Chile and Argentina). However, the growth in revenues mitigated these effects.

Traffic continued to grow in the Group's key markets, in particular in Chile, where average daily traffic was up 6.7%. The uptrend also continued in Europe, with increases of 5.5% and 1.6% in Spain and France respectively. Traffic also grew by 2.8% in Italy, though this country is only consolidated since September. In Puerto Rico, growth stood at 0.8%. These increases offset the decline in traffic in Brazil.

As for progress on achievement of the Strategic Plan, following the outright acquisition in January of Autopista Central in Chile, in September Abertis concluded the acquisition of 51.4% of A4 Holding, which manages the A4 (Brescia-Padova) and A31 (Vicenza-Piovene-Rochette) toll roads, for a total of €594Mn.

Both transactions are in addition to the agreements reached by the Group in its main markets in 2016 with the aim of extending the length of its concessions. Especially noteworthy are Plan Relance in France and the agreement with the Puerto Rican government to extend the Metropistas concession by ten years. The company is also currently negotiating fresh agreements with the Chilean and Argentine governments to extend its concessions in these countries in exchange for additional investment of around €2,000Mn.

Thanks to these concession extension agreements reached last years the Group has maintained the average lifespan of its current portfolio at the same level as in 2011, which in proportional terms means the average life of its assets has been extended by almost six years.

The company is also currently exploring growth opportunities in markets such as the UK, Brazil and Mexico which would enable it to increase the average life of its asset portfolio.

Abertis is also going in depth in its strategy to incorporate financial partners into its businesses. This helps the company to increase its financial capacity to face new investments and to maintain stable its credit rating. In the last few weeks the Group has reached an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) regarding the fund’s entry in Abertis' Chilean business with a 20% stake. Abertis has first-class financial partners in France, Brazil, Puerto Rico and now Chile.