Good evening. This is the Chorus Call conference operator. Welcome, and thank you for joining the Cementir Holding First 9 Months 2025 Results Conference Call. As a reminder, all participants are in listen-only mode. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Should anyone need assistance during the conference call, they may signal an operator by pressing star and zero on their telephone. At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Mr. Marco Maria Bianconi, Head of M&A and Investor Relations. Please go ahead, sir. Thank you. Good afternoon and good morning, everybody, and welcome to Cementir Holding 2025 9 Months results presentation. I am here with our Chairman and Chief Executive, Francesco Caltagirone, who's happy to take your question at the end of my short presentation. I will go through the presentation deck, which has been distributed. Starting with page number 2, with the key takeaways about our results. The first point is that the macroeconomic scenario is still characterized by high uncertainty, driven by geopolitical and trade tensions, and further exacerbated by protectionist measures in the U.S., which would be affecting, actually, the global economic growth rate. First 9 Months results were in line with our expectations, with the third quarter showing an improvement both in cement and in aggregate volumes. Revenues were broadly stable, with slightly lower EBITDA compared to the same period of last year, mainly due to EUR 12.5 million. Negative currency effect and EUR 2.7 million. Net non-recurring charges. There were two non-recurring events which affected the operating performance in the period. First was a fire in the alternative fuel feeding system in Belgium. The second were technical issues with the restart of the second production line in Egypt. Further details will be given later on. The 2025 guidance is confirmed, with revenues of around EUR 1.75 billion, EBITDA of around EUR 415 million, and net cash of around EUR 410 million year-end. These forecasts exclude any non-recurring items and are determined on a like-for-like basis. If you can turn the page to page number 3, just a few financial highlights. Revenue reached EUR 1.227 billion, minus 0.7% year-over-year. Non-GAAP revenues were up 0.4% to EUR 1.2324 billion. At constant 2024 exchange rate, revenue would be now 5.6%. Cement volumes were up 2.4%, mainly thanks to Türkiye, with a slight decline in Belgium and Denmark, whereas RMC volumes were stable and aggregate volumes were up by 5.2%. EBITDA was down 2.9% year-over-year to EUR 287.3 million. Non-GAAP EBITDA was down only 1.8% year-over-year to EUR 284 million. This lower EBITDA was mainly due to the negative exchange rate effect of EUR 12.5 million mentioned before and non-recurring charges of EUR 2.7 million. Non-GAAP EBITDA margin reached 23% versus 23.6% in the same period of last year. EBIT was down 7% year-on-year. Non-GAAP EBIT was down 6%. Net financial result was negative by EUR 0.3 million, down from EUR 18.1 million in the first nine months of 2024, mainly due to higher foreign exchange gains recorded in 2024, linked to the over 50% devaluation of the Egyptian pound versus the Euro. For this reason, profit before tax on a reported basis was down 17.4%, and non-GAAP pre-tax was down 14.2% year-on-year. Net cash position is very strong, EUR 198.5 million, an improvement of over EUR 118 million year-on-year, including EUR 43.5 million of dividends by the parent company and EUR 6 million of dividends to minorities. Let's go through the main geographies. If you turn to page 4, Nordic & Baltic, which is the largest region. 47% share of our group EBITDA. In Denmark, grey and white domestic cement volumes were slightly down versus last year, with the residential sector still relatively weak. The Fermern project volumes remain below forecast. Exports were up 4%, mainly to higher deliveries in the region. RMC volumes were down 4%, whereas aggregate volumes were up by 18% with strong demand. EBITDA was up by 5.9%, mainly due to the positive contribution of cement and savings in fuel and electricity consumption. In Norway, RMC volumes were up 9%, supported by favorable weather conditions and the startup of some major projects. There are signs of market recovery, although there is still a bit of overcapacity in price competition. EBITDA was up due to higher volumes and cost efficiency. This was despite the Norwegian krone depreciating by 1.1% versus the Euro in the period. In Sweden, RMC volumes were slightly up, whereas aggregate volumes were slightly down due to the lack of new infrastructure projects. EBITDA was actually up, driven by higher prices. The Swedish krona revaluated by 2.7% versus the Euro average. Turning to page 5, Belgium and France account for a quarter of our group EBITDA. The domestic cement volumes declined by around 7% in the first 9 months due to weak demand. Exports also were down by around 6% due to a physiological market slowdown in France following the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. RMC volumes were stable, driven by continuation of major projects, with different trends between Belgium and France. Aggregate volumes were broadly in line with last year, with growth in Belgium and the Netherlands but a fall in France. EBITDA was up by 3%, including a non-recurring net charge of EUR 2.7 million due to the fire in the feeding system of alternative fuels at the Gaurain plant, partially offset by a land sale gain. Recording EBITDA for this reason would have been higher by 6.9% year-on-year. The cement segment was penalized by lower volumes and higher electricity costs, whereas RMC benefited from higher prices and additional services. Turning to page 6, Türkiye accounting for 15% of group EBITDA. Let's remind ourselves that Türkiye is considered hyperinflationary since April 2022. So domestic cement volumes were up by 3% despite ongoing macroeconomic challenges and mixed regional trends. Cement and clinker exports were up 5%. RMC volumes were slightly down, whereas aggregate volumes were up by 18%. Revenue and EBITDA declined by 1% and 12.9% respectively, penalized mainly by the Turkish lira devaluation, which was around 23% in the period. With regards to the car plant sale, it is in progress, and the Antitrust review is still pending. Turning to page 7, North America accounting for 6% of group EBITDA. Cement volumes remain in line with last year. The residential market continues to be affected by high prices and high market rental rates, with uncertainties regarding the tariff policy. Texas saw a sharp decline, impacted mainly by adverse weather and some gas supply interruptions. The York region experienced a mild drop, influenced by harsh weather, whereas California and Florida volumes recorded a moderate increase. EBITDA was down 4%, mainly due to higher transport and production costs, only partially offset by price increases and cost savings. In the period, the U.S. dollar devalued by around 2.9% versus the Euro average. Turning to page 8, Asia-Pacific accounting for 4% of group EBITDA. In China, revenue was down 9.6% due to lower selling prices in a context of stagnant demand and delayed effect from government stimulus measures. Volumes were slightly up. EBITDA was down 26.3%, affected by weak pricing despite cost savings. The renminbi devalued by 3.2% versus the Euro. In Malaysia, revenue was up by 3.3%, driven by higher sales volumes, mainly clinker and cement exports. Total volumes increased by 16%, mainly due to larger clinker shipments to Australia. Domestic volume, although marginal, declined by 5% due to some delays in major projects and some ongoing trade tensions. Cement exports rose by 7%. EBITDA was down by around 8%, mainly due to U.S. dollar and Australian dollar depreciation, with 80% of our exports denominated in those two currencies, despite some cost savings and higher sales volumes in the period. There was a 4% revaluation of the Malaysian ringgit versus the Euro. Turning to the last region, Egypt, page number 9, accounting for 2% of group EBITDA. Revenue declined by 1.2%, mainly due to a significant depreciation of the Egyptian pound, around 17% versus the Euro average, with a 15% increase in local currency. White cement volumes were up 6%, mainly driven by exports to the U.S., to Morocco, France, and Italy. Domestic cement volumes were down due to a soft market, high inflation, and currency devaluation and rising energy costs. The reactivation of the second production line, which has been idle for nine years, caused some production disruptions and clinker quality issues, leading to higher third-party purchase costs. These issues were solved by the end of June, but clinker purchases continued in July. EBITDA was down mainly due to currency devaluation and higher operating costs, only partially offset by higher export volumes. A few words about our sustainability achievements. On page 10, we continue to receive a number of recognitions on our ESG efforts. We have been, for the second consecutive year, nominated by Sustainalytics among the ESG industry-toperated companies. We score with an A rate in climate change and A- in water for the third consecutive year. We are included since 2025 in. Among Europe's climate leaders, and we've been included also in 2025 by Statista in the world's most sustainable companies. We also are, among, for the second time, CDP Supplier Engagement Leaders, and we have improved the rating on both Sustainalytics and S&P Global in the period. Among the strategic initiatives, on page 10. The EUR 220 million grants agreement, which was signed with Air Liquide and the EU Innovation Fund for the ACCSION project, our CCS project in Denmark. We launched, in the period, the D-Carb production line and product line in Malaysia. The first low-carbon white cement brand with a 12% lower CO2 impact versus ordinary Portland. Turning to the last slide of my presentation. 2025 guidance unchanged, with revenue expected to be EUR 1.75 billion, up 6% versus last year, EBITDA EUR 415 million, 3% up from last year, and net cash EUR 410 million, up EUR 120 million from last year. This guidance refers to like-for-like ongoing operations, non-GAAP, and excluding any non-recurring items. This ends my presentation, and I would like now to leave the floor for our Chairman and Chief Executive, who is happy to take your questions. This is the operator. We will now begin the question and answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on their telephone. To remove yourself from the question queue, please press star and two. Please pick up the receiver when asking questions. Anyone who has a question may press star and one at this time. The first question is from Matteo Bonizzoni of Kepler Cheuvreux. Please go ahead. Thank you. Good evening. I have three questions. The first one relates to the guidance which we have reiterated for the full year at EUR 450 million. We have seen a positive inflection of the EBITDA in Q3, which was up on an adjusted base, a non-GAAP around 7%. This guidance implies an even more robust Q4 with a 13% growth versus Q4 last year. In general terms, can you provide a flavor on the reason for this expected acceleration? Second question relates to Türkiye. Türkiye was weak on margin in the first half, 12% EBITDA margin, but the margin doubled to 25% in Q3. Can you elaborate on price versus cost dynamics? I guess that there was an improvement in terms of pricing, which instead was lagging behind in the first half, and so this drove margin expansion. Also related to Türkiye, can you elaborate on the export opportunities in light of the evolution of the current geopolitical situation? Last question is, as we approach 2026, and I guess you are in budgeting phase, what are the key drivers which could move the needle next year? How do you expect 2026 in general terms, without clearly referring to any precise figure, but just your preliminary flavor on what are the key variables to keep in mind for next year? Thanks. Good afternoon. Regarding the first question, I mean, we had, as you said, a positive third quarter. Also, looking at the first nine months, our two main regions that are Nordics and Belgium, France, are, let me say, performing better, considering also that Belgium suffered this fire plate during, let me say, the second quarter. Regarding the gap and that we should fill during the last quarter, as you remember, I already said that we might receive compensation from insurance, and that if this covers. What we have, let me say, lost in these various, let me say, problems, this might rebalance the situation of the gap that's so. In terms of euro return to recover by the end of the year, it seems a wide gap. If you add that some of this, let me say, gap can be fulfilled by the insurance, where we are, let me say, in a positive mood to solve by the end of the year, this might, let me say, let us reach a number that is around what we have declared. The same for the net financial position. Regarding the speed or -- The quantification of this refund, maybe you already said in the last conference call, but just to remind, EUR 1 million of this refund. Around? As you can imagine, we are, let me say, in active talk with the insurance, so I cannot, let me say, now. Let's say that we are talking about something that is more or less between EUR 20 million. Okay. Besides, let's say, because we had, let me say, the major issue where the fire at the Belgium, let me say, plant, another issue that we suffered in Egypt, and then other minor things around that we, let me say, did not disclose, but they are on the table with the insurance. Let's say that a number more or less around that, we might, let me say, it might fulfill, let me say, the gap that today we might see by the end of the year. Regarding Türkiye, as I also said in the first half, the very low EBITDA was because the cost for the labor cost. Compared to last year, it has been retroactive. Now, let's say, the price has been aligned to this, let me say, increase in the labor cost, and now, let's say, we are, let me say, recovering the loss of what we have suffered, let's say, mainly in the first quarter. In 2026, as you can imagine, we are now in the middle of the process, but let's say that, looking at the last quarter, looking at the two main regions, are, let me say, performing better, even if not as much better as we forecast. The recovery is there, but it is not so strong. Also, this year, we suffered one-off in Belgium and Egypt, and we expect not to suffer another time. Let's say that we think that next year should be better than this year, I mean, in EBITDA and net financial position. Regarding the revenues, as you can imagine, are deeply impacted by foreign exchange, and especially we do not know Egypt and Türkiye what they will reach as a terminal exchange rate by the end of the year. We are, let me say, likely positive regarding what we expect for 2026 compared to 2025. Thank you. In terms of export, sorry, export, let's say, is gaining pace towards Syria, but as you can imagine, there is a huge problem of mine. Let me say, the roads are full of mines, and it is very slow, let me say, the cleaning and the clearing up. What we expect, if the peace talk will hold, is that with Gaza, the ban to export from Türkiye to Israel should be removed, and this is affecting 300,000 tons of our export in the last couple of years. As you can imagine, we have a plant at 50 km that can ship in Egypt cement by land. Cement, I think, for the first few years should arrive in Gaza only by land because they do not have a harbor, they do not have a terminal, so it will take time. Today, it is even difficult to forecast when, let me say, a final and definitive peace will be, let me say, signed. Also, if we will have one state, two states, and every, so it is very complicated. Today, in our, let me say, forecast for 2026, we do not, let me say, consider any kind of export towards Gaza and even towards Syria because, let me say, in the process, we still see that it is quite slow. Okay. Thank you. The next question is from Emanuele Gallazzi of Equita. Good evening. I have a couple of questions. Let's start with Denmark. You basically mentioned some ongoing weakness in residential and infrastructure slower than expected. Can you just elaborate on the country entering in 2026? Do you see any, let's say, early sign or catalyst supporting demand for 2026 in Denmark? The second one is on the profitability because if we look at the third quarter, clearly there are some areas of strong margin expansion. Like clearly Denmark and Belgium. Can you give us a sense on how the input cost, like fuel and energy, are evolving as they should. Let's say, be a tailwind, at least also in the fourth quarter and in early 2026? The last one is just a clarification on the EUR 2.7 million of non-recurring charges. Does the amount include also the Egyptian issue or not? Thank you. Starting from the last one, no. It's just. On the Belgium side, because we sold the land and we suffered this fire. It is just regarding Belgium, not the sum of all the other things. In Denmark, as I said, we are seeing an early phase of recovery. It is not, let me say, as strong as we expected, but we continue to see this even in 2026. The Fermern project is, let me say, going slower than what we expected, but at the end, they started and they should finish. What we are not selling now, we will sell later because this is as usual. Sometimes, let me say, with this, let me say, very difficult and complicated infrastructure. This is, let me say, a tunnel that goes under the sea. There are some, let me say, delays. We expect that even in the first half of next year, these delays will continue. We might, let me say, speed up in the second half of next year. [the other one?] On the input cost, fuel and energy evolution. Yes. As you can see, let me say, in the last three years, including this one, the company has been able, let me say, to maintain the same level of, or less, EBITDA. That is around EUR 400 million. And with quantity, especially in the Nordics and in Belgium, that decreased, and also ready-mixed in Sweden and Norway. We think. We are aware that today, if we just recover this quantity, quantity that we sold in 2022, we should increase the EBITDA of the group between EUR 50 million and EUR 60 million. What we expect is that if this recovery of banks will materialize in the next couple of years, we should start to recover this gap because the cost we are adding on the energy side, the labor cost, the only question mark is usually in Türkiye, but is, let me say, balanced usually by the exchange rate fall. We do not see major threat, I mean, in the next two years in the input cost. Okay. Thank you. The next question is from Egor Sonin of AlphaValue. The next question is from Egor Sonin, AlphaValue. Please go ahead. Yeah. Sorry. Thank you for picking up my question. I have a question regarding the pricing power and market dynamic in working volume environments. In several key markets like Belgium and China, you mentioned volume decline, but also reference. You You also reference price increases. Could you provide more color on the company pricing power in the current macroeconomic environment? Are you able to fully offset cost inflation for price? In which regions are you seeing the most or least price resilience? Thank you. Starting from the last question for next now, but even next year. Where we see some softness in the market, both in price and volume, is China and France. These are the only two regions where we see a mild slowdown. In all the remaining part of the perimeter, we see, as I said, with the same price, just if we keep the price that we have today, not increase the price, but just we recover the volume, we have EUR 50 million-EUR 60 million of EBITDA to recover just with, because in the last three years, we succeeded in cutting, especially the fixed cost. If the recovery will materialize, we should, let me say, benefit just from the volume expansion, not price. Regarding the price, let's say, I don't see, frankly speaking, that with the market that continues to have, let me say, stable, let's say, especially in Europe, except for France, that there is a lot of space to increase the price because I believe that also the other major players that have a cost structure close to ours will bet more on the recovered volume than increasing the price, frankly speaking. In Egypt, I think that especially now that the second line is performing well, we can expand the export base. Also, we believe that from next year, Egypt should, let me say, recover and even go towards, I think, the EUR 20 million of EBITDA that we expect with the two-line full working at full speed. Okay. Thank you. The next question is from Emanuele Negri of Mediobanca. Yes. Hello everybody. Thanks for the presentation and for taking my question. I have a couple. The first one is, which kind of effect do you expect in terms of inflation from the incoming implementation of the CBAM regulation? The second one is if you can give us an update on the Air Liquide project you have in Denmark with Air Liquide. Actually, a third question is a follow-up from a previous one about margins in Denmark and Belgium, which, as mentioned before, had a strong profitability performance in the third quarter. Could you give us an idea of the drivers which led to such a strong performance? Thanks. The driver, I mean, to the profitability, even in Türkiye, is the recovery, I mean, on the cost side. There is not an increase in the price. I mean, in Türkiye, it has been an alignment of the price due to the labor cost inflation. In the other two countries, as you know, in Europe now, we are experiencing an inflation that is below 2%, so there is not much space to increase the list price, more or less everywhere. It's mainly on the cost side. What CBAM? CBAM will start a sort of virtual, let me say, test next year when we will start to calculate, eventually, the extra cost that we need when something is imported. This will not affect the balance sheet of anybody. This might, let me say, from 2027. We might see which are the real flow of, especially, clinker that will continue to arrive into Europe. For sure, looking at the price of the CO2 that is increasing, reaching nearly EUR 82. I think that to import cement, especially from Türkiye, Egypt, and North Africa, will cost more. And this, let me say, should push a little bit the price higher. Or will shrink the margin of the importers, let's say. This is something that is in the hand, especially of the importer that we have. But mainly, where we are located, I mean, in the Nordics and in Belgium, Northern France, there is not so much import. I do not think that this CBAM, I think, will affect more the Mediterranean area, especially Italy, South France, Spain, partly Portugal, and less the other countries. The action update that we are working, let me say, in our normal agenda, we are just waiting because, as you know, there is part of the project that is in the hand of ourself and Air Liquide, and part of, let me say, the project. The infrastructure that is the pipe and also the viability of the sequestration, let me say, site is in the hand of the government. And so we are aligning with them because we do not want to finish earlier our investment because we are, let me say, quite sure that we can fulfill the agenda by, let me say, as we say, 2030. Some delays might arrive, but we think that the delay is in the span of one year maximum by certain, let me say, authorization to build the pipeline and the harbor terminal. Okay. Thank you. As a reminder, if you wish to register for a question, please press star and one on your telephone. The next question is from Bruno Permutti of Intesa Sanpaolo. Please go ahead. Good evening, everyone. I have a few questions. The first one concerns the volumes. You had. It seems to see a step up in volumes in the third quarter compared to the first half of the year. If you can elaborate a little bit if this is related to phasing of deliveries or if you believe that this is sustainable going forward into the fourth quarter and the next year. The second question is related, if you can remember, please, what was the negative impact on EBITDA that you had from the two incidents and accidents in 2025? So Belgium fire and the delay in the ramp-up of the Egypt second line. Last one, if you are still very cautious on M&A or if something is changing considering the amount of cash you expect to have by year-end. Thank you. Starting from the last one, I mean, an M&A scenario is the same. We are still in a waiting mode, also understanding which plant will. Let's say, survive the environmental transformation. And so just to understand, how much money every plant has to put on the plate because you have to deduct to the final price of every plant. This is the first thing. So far, I think that we haven't seen any, let me say, good opportunity to buy out the other players because the value is mismatching the real value of the expected value in the medium-long term after environmental investment. Regarding what we have seen, as I said, we are seeing a recovery in the third quarter. Also, this recovery is not so strong as we expected. We expect that we should see some of this recovery continue in 2026. The macro, let me say, situation all around Europe, I think, is quite clear. I don't forecast a very strong recovery now. France is in a political mess, as you can imagine and know. Our forecast is just linked to the exchange rates from the central bank that continue to, let me say, be lowered. The impact, I think, is limited now because, let's say, I think we are reaching a sort of plateau in the rates. I do not expect that, especially in Europe, we might see another 50 or 75 basis points during the next year. As I said, in terms of volume, we have lost in the last two and a half years nearly EUR 50 million-EUR 60 million of value added. Just to go back to that volume, it is just important. We do not think that in next year we can recover this gap. Even if we take, I think, two or three years, it is still positive. As I said, we don't see major threats from the cost side. The other question, not the place. Yes. I mean, the two major, let me say, issues that we have is more or less EUR 8 million. But considering that, besides these are the direct impact. As you can imagine, why then we will reach around EUR 20 million? Because when you, this, let me say, especially in Belgium, the issue of not producing, let me say, clinker, buying clinker from outside, even in Egypt, affects also the CO2. We also had to be compensated on the CO2 that we used, let me say, to fulfill, let me say, this issue. The direct impact is EUR 8 million because this is what we have suffered so far till the third quarter. Let me say, in terms of magnitude, we expect that can be more because of this, let me say, the CO2 and other minor, let me say, issues that affected the perimeter, especially in Europe. Thank you. For any further questions, please press star and one on your telephone. Once again, if you wish to ask a question, please press star and one. Gentlemen, there are no more questions registered at this time. Okay. Thank you very much for your interest in Cementir. We wish you a pleasant rest of your day and evening. Thank you very much. Thank you. Have a nice evening. Bye-bye. Bye. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining. The conference is now over. You may disconnect your telephones. Thank you.