Annual Report 2025: Regional value creation reaches a new high of €1.33 billion – Group employs 3,585 people
HEAG concluded the 2025 financial year with improved consolidated earnings. Despite what the company described as a continuing challenging economic environment, earnings rose from €61.4 million in the previous year to €63.9 million. Regional value creation reached a new record high of approximately €1.332 billion.
The group also recorded growth in other key figures. Sales revenue increased slightly from €3.331 billion to €3.339 billion, and total assets rose from €3.925 billion to €4.301 billion. At the end of the year, the group employed 3,585 people, including trainees. At the end of 2024, this number was 3,502.
“Our municipal companies are an indispensable pillar of a high-performing and future-oriented city,” explains Mayor Hanno Benz, Chairman of the HEAG Supervisory Board. The financial year shows that HEAG fulfills its tasks as the holding company manager of the science city of Darmstadt “with strategic vision and economic stability.”.
30.2 million euros to the city of Darmstadt
HEAG Holding AG reported a net profit of €10 million, compared to €11.5 million in the previous year. This result was significantly influenced by, among other things, €29.6 million in income from investments in ENTEGA AG. At the same time, HEAG assumed a loss of €12.8 million from HEAG mobilo GmbH, thereby making a substantial contribution to the financing of local public transport, according to the company.
Interest expenses from the acquisition of ENTEGA shares decreased to €3.7 million. HEAG Holding's total assets increased slightly from €689.8 million to €691.3 million.
In total, the HEAG Group paid approximately €30.2 million to the city of Darmstadt. This includes dividends, concession fees, business taxes, property taxes, payroll taxes, and guarantee commissions.
For 2025, HEAG will distribute a total of 4.4 million euros, compared to 7.9 million euros in the previous year. Of this, four million euros will go to the city of Darmstadt and 400,000 euros to the Darmstadt and Dieburg savings bank.
“Together with our subsidiaries, we have succeeded in securing the economic performance of the HEAG Group and at the same time advancing important future projects for the science city of Darmstadt,” explain HEAG board members Prof. Dr. Klaus-Michael Ahrend and Dr. Markus Hoschek.
Urban economic strategy 2030 developed
A key focus in 2025 was the revision of Darmstadt's urban economic strategy. Since 2009, this strategy has provided the strategic framework for managing and developing the city's municipal companies. HEAG coordinated the steering committee established by the city for this, the fourth revision, and brought together input from politicians, the city's business community, and other stakeholders.
As the internal management consultancy of the science city, HEAG was also involved in several major projects. These included advising on the merger of the Darmstadt and Dieburg savings banks and supporting the merger of the Darmstadt Clinic with the Agaplesion Elisabethenstift.
Other topics included the reorganization of the bathing facilities and the transfer of operations to Darmstädter Sportstätten GmbH, the examination of further development of the DADINA special-purpose association, and projects related to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mathildenhöhe.
Carsharing, FairCup and “Darmstadt in the heart”
In its report on municipal holdings, HEAG also provided an overview of the economic development of its municipal investments. Together with the City of Darmstadt, it was awarded the prize for reflective governance practice by the expert commission of the German Public Corporate Governance Model Code for its work.
Further expansions in 2025 included the HEAG FairCup reusable cup system and the HEAG book-n-drive car-sharing service . The "Darmstadt im Herzen" app received additional features, including cargo bike rentals and digital access to KAGEL's 24/7 services.
HEAG was also active in economic development and start-up support. The Darmstadt Sensor Technology Day was organized for the first time, and the establishment of a Hessian sensor technology cluster was prepared in cooperation with partners. Furthermore, the HUB31 technology and start-up center and the HEAG start-up fund were further developed.
The funding project “Darmstadt Energy Laboratory for Technologies in Application” (DELTA), in which the HEAG Group is involved together with partners from science and industry, was also continued.
HEAG aims to expand digitalization and economic development
In the current fiscal year, HEAG intends to further advance the implementation of the city's economic strategy 2030 and support other strategic projects of the science city. Digitalization and economic development will also remain key priorities.
Plans include additional features for the "Darmstadt im Herzen" app, strengthening the start-up fund, and expanding the car-sharing service. Event formats such as the City Business Forum and the City Business Day will be continued.
The full 2025 annual report is available on the HEAG website.
(DARMSTADT – RED/HEAG)
