Arkema: Third-Quarter 2025 Results

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

Arkema (PARIS:AKE):

Sales of €2.2 billion, down 4.7% compared to last year at constant exchange rates:

• Volumes down 2.5% reflecting the lower demand observed in the United States over the summer and the overall weakness in Europe, while Asia, in particular China, remains more resilient
• Strong momentum with ~20 % YoY sales growth in several specific key markets at the heart of our innovation strategy, namely batteries, sports, 3D printing, healthcare and new-generation fluorospecialties
• 3.7% negative price effect, impacted essentially by the acrylic cycle and the old-generation refrigerant gases, while all other activities have seen more stable prices

EBITDA down to €310 million (€407 million in Q3’24) and EBITDA margin at 14.2%:

• Volumes in Adhesive Solutions and Advanced Materials reflecting weak demand in Europe and the United States but supported by the Group’s development strategy in higher value-added activities and by growth in Asia. Slightly negative net pricing with some benefit from lower raw material costs as they work through the supply chain.
• Coating Solutions significantly down, impacted by the acrylic cycle and the sales decline in the US construction market
• Seasonal decrease in refrigerant gases
• Unfavorable currency impact of around €15 million, mainly linked to the US dollar

Adjusted net income of €78 million representing €1.04 per share (€2.25 in Q3'24)

Very solid cash generation with a recurring cash flow of €207 million, higher than last year, reflecting the strict management of working capital and lower capex than last year

Net debt down by almost €200 million in the quarter to €3.4 billion (including hybrid bonds). Issuance of a €500 million green bond with an 8-year maturity and a 3.5% coupon.

Strengthening of our cost-cutting efforts:

• Objective to broadly offset fixed costs inflation in 2025 and 2026 with a large number of initiatives ramping up across all functions and business lines
• Further reduction in capex to around €600 million in 2026, representing a decrease of approximately €50 million compared to 2025 and €150 million compared to 2024

2025 guidance: taking into account the currently challenging macroeconomic context and the softer than expected demand in the United States, the Group aims at delivering an EBITDA of between €1.25 billion and €1.3 billion and a recurring cash flow of approximately €300 million in 2025.

Chairman and CEO Thierry Le Hénaff said:

"I would like to warmly thank the Arkema teams, whose commitment and professionalism allow us to successfully operate on two levels. On the one hand, we tightly manage costs, capex and working capital to optimize 2025 and be well prepared for 2026. And at the same time, we are following our growth strategy, by strengthening our customer intimacy, delivering our innovation and leveraging our technological platforms in our 5 key high-growth markets. In this respect, I am pleased to announce the launch of a One Arkema platform dedicated to data centers where we have significant growth prospects, and which will reinforce the existing offering in the attractive advanced electronics market.

We are fully convinced that we have all the necessary assets, notably thanks to our recent investments, to benefit from better times of the world economy and capture the numerous opportunities driven by megatrends, which will continue to drive the growth. In the short term, all the teams are fully mobilized on a daily basis to manage the current economic and geopolitical context.”

KEY FIGURES

THIRD-QUARTER 2025 BUSINESS PERFORMANCE

At €2,187 million, Group sales were down 4.7% compared with the prior year at constant exchange rates. Volumes were down 2.5% in an environment marked by lower demand in the United States during the summer and overall weak demand in Europe, while Asia, particularly China, remained more resilient. Sales were also supported by Arkema's positive momentum in several key markets at the heart of its growth and innovation strategy, namely batteries, sports, 3D printing, healthcare and new-generation fluorospecialties with low Global Warming Potential, whose sales were up around 20% compared to last year. The negative 3.7% price effect was impacted essentially by the acrylic cycle and by the old-generation refrigerant gases. All other activities showed a limited price decrease of 1.3%, and net pricing was slightly negative with some benefit of lower raw materials costs as they work through the supply chain. The 1.5% positive scope effect reflected essentially the integration of Dow’s laminating adhesives. The negative 3.9% currency effect was linked to the devaluation of the US dollar and certain Asian currencies against the euro.

At €310 million, Group EBITDA was down on the previous year (€407 million in Q3'24), and the EBITDA margin stood at 14.2% (17.0% in Q3'24), including an unfavorable currency effect of around €15 million. This performance reflected the significant decline in Coating Solutions, impacted by low cycle conditions in upstream acrylics and lower volumes in the United States, notably in construction, as well as the seasonal decrease in refrigerant gases. Although not immune to the trends in Europe and the United States, Adhesive Solutions and Advanced Materials held up better, supported by the Group’s development strategy in higher value-added activities and by volume growth in Asia, notably in the battery and sports sectors. Furthermore, the focus on strict control of operations and the implementation of several cost-saving initiatives enabled the Group to broadly offset fixed cost inflation over the quarter.

Recurring depreciation and amortization totaled €168 million, up €7 million on the third quarter of 2024, mainly reflecting the integration of Dow’s laminating adhesives and the start-up of new production units in 2025, partially offset by a favorable currency effect. Recurring operating income (REBIT) therefore amounted to €142 million (€246 million in Q3’24) and REBIT margin came in at 6.5% (10.3% in Q3’24).

Operating income amounted to €94 million (€184 million in Q3'24), including €13 million in non-recurring expenses, mainly corresponding to restructuring costs linked to the reorganization of the Jarrie site.

Adjusted net income stood at €78 million (€168 million in Q3’24), i.e. €1.04 per share.

CASH FLOW AND NET DEBT AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

The Group delivered a very good level of cash, with recurring cash flow higher than last year at €207 million (€190 million in Q3'24), including a €103 million inflow linked to the continued strict management of working capital. At end-September 2025, working capital represented 17.3% of annualized sales (17.0% at end-June 2025 and 16.4% at end-September 2024). Recurring cash flow also included lower capital expenditure at €131 million (€167 million in Q3’24). Over the full year of 2025, capital expenditure is expected to come in at around €650 million. Besides, the Group plans to reduce capital expenditure to around €600 million in 2026, a reduction of around €50 million compared to 2025 and €150 million compared to 2024.

Free cash flow amounted to €185 million (€175 million in Q3’24), including a non-recurring cash outflow of €22 million, linked notably to restructuring costs and reorganization costs at the Jarrie site in France.

Net debt (including hybrid bonds) was down by almost €200 million compared with end-June 2025, and came in at €3,403 million at end-September 2025. The net debt and hybrid bonds to last-twelve-months EBITDA ratio stood at 2.6x.

In addition, Arkema successfully placed a new €500 million green bond with an eight-year maturity and an annual coupon of 3.50%. Thus, the Group has finalized the refinancing of its 2026 maturities, while strengthening the alignment of its financing strategy with its sustainable development commitments and extending the average maturity of its debt.

THIRD-QUARTER 2025 PERFORMANCE BY SEGMENT

ADHESIVE SOLUTIONS (31% OF TOTAL GROUP SALES)

Despite a significant negative currency effect of 3.8%, sales in the Adhesive Solutions segment were slightly down by 1% and totaled €675 million (€682 million in Q3'24). Volumes decreased by 3.1%, reflecting broadly weak demand in industrial adhesives, as in the second quarter, as well as disappointing summer months in the United States, notably in flexible packaging and construction. Prices were down slightly by 1.1% in a context of declining costs for certain raw materials, the benefits of which will start to support net pricing more particularly from the fourth quarter onwards. Sales also included a 7.0% positive scope effect related to the acquisition of Dow's flexible packaging laminating adhesives business.

Segment EBITDA came in at €93 million (€107 million in Q3'24), affected mainly by lower volumes and by the currency effect. At 13.8%, the EBITDA margin was down compared with last year (15.7% in Q3'24), reflecting the decrease in EBITDA as well as the dilutive effect of Dow's adhesives, in integration phase.

ADVANCED MATERIALS (37% OF TOTAL GROUP SALES)

At €810 million (€885 million in Q3'24), sales in the Advanced Materials segment were down 4.5% at constant exchange rates, reflecting mainly a negative 3.9% volume effect, essentially related to Performance Additives, while High Performance Polymers volumes were stable. Performance Additives were impacted by the weak demand in the United States and Europe, particularly in the energy markets, and by the reorganization of the Jarrie site in hydrogen peroxide. High Performance Polymers benefited from strong growth in Asia and from their development and innovation strategy in several key markets such as batteries, sports, 3D printing, healthcare and low Global Warming Potential fluorospecialties. In this field, the Group successfully started up its new 1233zd unit in the United States during the quarter and has just finalized the mechanical completion of its Rilsan^® Clear unit, downstream of its PA11 plant in Singapore, which is due to start up in the first quarter of 2026. Third-quarter sales also included a negative 4.0% currency effect, while prices were broadly stable at negative 0.6%.

At €152 million (€189 million in Q3'24), segment EBITDA was mainly impacted by lower volumes in Performance Additives and an unfavorable currency effect. The EBITDA margin for the segment remained nevertheless at the good level of 18.8% (21.4% in Q3’24) with High Performance Polymers maintaining its solid margin level of 20%.

COATING SOLUTIONS (25% OF TOTAL GROUP SALES)

Sales in the Coating Solutions segment decreased by 15.2% year-on-year to €532 million. Down 5.8%, volumes reflected the weak demand, notably in the construction and decorative paints markets, essentially in North America. The negative 5.9% price effect mainly reflected the less favorable market conditions in upstream acrylics. Lastly, the currency effect was a negative 3.5%.

In this context, segment EBITDA decreased significantly to €51 million (€81 million in Q3’24), reflecting low cycle margins in upstream acrylics as well as the sales decline in the United States, and the EBITDA margin came in at 9.6% (12.9% in Q3’24).

INTERMEDIATES (7% OF TOTAL GROUP SALES)

Sales in the Intermediates segment, at €161 million, were down 15.7% compared to the third quarter of last year. The shift in product mix in refrigerant gases led notably by the end of the production of 410A equipment in the US last year implied a sharp volume rise of 16.7% at segment level offset by a negative 21.6% price effect on a high comparison basis. The scope effect was a negative 5.7%, corresponding to the disposal of non-strategic assets in sebacic acid in China finalized in fourth-quarter 2024. The currency effect was a negative 5.1%.

At €38 million, EBITDA included the seasonality of the third quarter, and was down 25.5% on last year, reflecting essentially the less favorable macroeconomic environment as well as the impact of the evolution of the regulations in the US and Europe in refrigerant gases, while acrylics in Asia improved slightly. The EBITDA margin stood at the high level of 23.6% (26.7% in Q3’24).

HIGHLIGHTS

On 28 August 2025, Arkema successfully started up its new Forane^® 1233zd production unit in Calvert City, USA, continuing its development in low Global Warming Potential (GWP) fluorospecialties to meet the increasing demand for more sustainable solutions in building insulation and thermal management, particularly in cooling for data centers.

On 8 September 2025, Arkema announced the appointment of Laurent Peyronneau as Executive Vice President of the Adhesive Solutions segment (Bostik) and member of the Executive Committee, succeeding Vincent Legros.

On 29 September 2025, Arkema officially showcased its Battery Dry Coating laboratory located at the Cerdato research center, in Normandy, France, together with its customers and partners. This state-of-the-art facility complements Arkema's global network of R&D labs dedicated to the battery industry and reflects Arkema's strategic commitment to pioneering sustainable and high-performance solutions.

On 7 October 2025, Arkema announced a project related to the evolution of the industrial activities of its Pierre-Bénite site in France, providing for the closure of two historic fluorogas production lines. With this project, the Pierre-Bénite site would thus be refocused on the fluoropolymers activity, a range of high value-added specialty materials serving attractive markets such as batteries and semiconductors.

Lastly, Arkema announced on 23 October 2025 that it had completed the modernization and decarbonization project of its Lacq/Mourenx site, which specializes in specialty sulfur derivatives used in particular in agrochemicals, refining, petrochemicals and renewable fuels. This project included the construction of a treatment plant for sulfur-based effluents which operates a more efficient process that helps cut down SO₂ emissions by 40% and GHG emissions by over 10%.

OUTLOOK

In a global context that remains marked by limited visibility, geopolitical tensions, the increase in tariffs and a weak demand environment, the Group continues to prioritize working on the elements under its control, focusing on strictly managing its operating costs, its capital expenditure and its working capital.

Arkema has thus launched a large number of initiatives ramping up across all functions and business lines to optimize and streamline its activities with the objective to broadly offset fixed costs inflation in 2025 and 2026. For this year, the Group confirms its objective of around €100 million of savings in fixed and variable costs.

At the same time, Arkema is continuing to implement its strategic roadmap on Specialty Materials, notably with the ramp-up of its major projects, for the most part already funded. Their additional contribution to the Group’s EBITDA has been reassessed for the year at around €60 million, factoring in particular the growth of PVDF in batteries, Pebax^® in sports, 1233zd in thermal insulation for buildings and PIAM in advanced electronics, as well as the first contribution from Dow's flexible packaging laminating adhesives business.

Taking into account the currently challenging macroeconomic context and the softer than expected demand in the United States, the Group aims at delivering an EBITDA of between €1.25 billion and €1.3 billion and a recurring cash flow of approximately €300 million in 2025.

Further details concerning the Group’s third-quarter 2025 results are provided in the “Third-quarter 2025 results and outlook” presentation and the “Factsheet”, both available on Arkema’s website at: www.arkema.com/global/en/investor-relations/

FINANCIAL CALENDAR

26 February 2026: Publication of full-year 2025 results

6 May 2026: Publication of first-quarter 2026 results

DISCLAIMER

The information disclosed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial position, results of operations, business and strategy of Arkema.

In a context of significant geopolitical tensions, where the outlook for the global economy remains uncertain, the retained assumptions and forward-looking statements could ultimately prove inaccurate. Such statements are based on management’s current views and assumptions that could ultimately prove inaccurate and are subject to risk factors such as (but not limited to) changes in raw materials prices, currency fluctuations, and the pace at which cost-reduction projects are implemented, escalating geopolitical tensions, and changes in general economic and financial conditions. Arkema does not assume any liability to update such forward-looking statements whether as a result of any new information or any unexpected event or otherwise. Further information on factors which could affect Arkema’s financial results is provided in the documents filed with the French Autorité des marchés financiers.

Balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement data, as well as information by segment included in this document are extracted from the consolidated financial information at 30 September 2025, as reviewed by Arkema’s Board of Directors on 6 November 2025. Quarterly financial information is not audited. Information by segment is presented in accordance with Arkema’s internal reporting system used by management.

Definitions and concordance tables for the main alternative performance indicators used by the Group are provided in Notes 6 and 8 to the 30 September 2025 consolidated financial information at the end of this document.

For the purpose of tracking changes in its results, and particularly its sales figures, the Group analyzes the following effects (unaudited analyses):

• scope effect: the impact of changes in the Group's scope of consolidation, which arise from acquisitions and divestments of entire businesses or as a result of the first-time consolidation or deconsolidation of entities. Increases or reductions in capacity are not included in the scope effect;
• currency effect: the mechanical impact of consolidating accounts denominated in currencies other than the euro at different exchange rates from one period to another. The currency effect is calculated by applying the foreign exchange rates of the prior period to the figures for the period under review;
• price effect: the impact of changes in average selling prices is estimated by comparing the weighted average net unit selling price of a range of related products in the period under review with their weighted average net unit selling price in the prior period, multiplied, in both cases, by the volumes sold in the period under review; and
• volume effect: the impact of changes in volumes is estimated by comparing the quantities delivered in the period under review with the quantities delivered in the prior period, multiplied, in both cases, by the weighted average net unit selling price in the prior period.

Building on its unique set of expertise in materials science, Arkema offers a portfolio of first-class technologies to address ever-growing demand for new and more sustainable materials. With the ambition to become a pure player in Specialty Materials in 2024, the Group is structured into three complementary, resilient and highly innovative segments dedicated to Specialty Materials - Adhesive Solutions, Advanced Materials, and Coating Solutions - accounting for some 92% of Group sales in 2024, and a well-positioned and competitive Intermediates segment. Arkema offers cutting-edge technological solutions to meet the challenges of, among other things, new energies, access to water, recycling, urbanization and mobility, and fosters a permanent dialogue with all its stakeholders. The Group reported sales of around €9.5 billion in 2024 and operates in some 55 countries with 21,150 employees worldwide.

ARKEMA financial statements

Consolidated financial information - At the end of September 2025

Consolidated financial statements as of December 2024 have been audited.

8. DEFINITIONS OF ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Recurring depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to depreciation, amortization and impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets before taking into account:

1. depreciation and amortization related to the revaluation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets as part of the allocation of the purchase price of businesses, and
2. impairment included in other income and expenses.

The indicator facilitates period-to-period comparisons by eliminating non-recurring items.

• Working capital

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the net amount of current assets and liabilities relating to operating activities, capital expenditure and financing activities. It reflects the Group’s short-term financing requirements resulting from cash flow timing differences between outflows and inflows relating to operating activities.

• Capital employed

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the sum of the following:

1. the net book value of goodwill,
2. the net book value of intangible assets (excluding goodwill) and property, plant and equipment,
3. the amount of investments in equity affiliates,
4. the amount of other investments and other non-current assets, and
5. working capital.

Capital employed is used to analyze the amount of capital invested by the Group to conduct its business.

• Adjusted capital employed

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to capital employed adjusted for divestments and acquisitions, to ensure consistency between the numerator and denominator items used to calculate ROCE.

In the case of an announced divestment of a business announced and not finalized by 31 December, the operating income of this business remains consolidated in the income statement, and is therefore included in the calculation of REBIT, whereas items relating to capital employed are classified as assets/liabilities held for sale and are therefore excluded from the calculation of capital employed. To ensure consistency between the numerator and denominator items used to calculate ROCE, capital employed at 31 December is increased by the capital employed relating to the business being sold.

When an acquisition is finalized during the year, operating results are only consolidated in the income statement from the date of acquisition, and not for the full year, while capital employed is recognized in full at 31 December. When the acquisition has not generated a material contribution to the year's earnings, in order to ensure consistency between the numerator and denominator items used to calculate ROCE, capital employed at 31 December is reduced by the capital employed relating to the acquired business, unless they are considered as not material.

• Net debt

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the sum of current and non-current debt less cash and cash equivalents.

• Net debt and hybrid bonds

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the amount of net debt and hybrid bonds.

• Net debt and hybrid bonds to EBITDA ratio

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the ratio of net debt and hybrid bonds to EBITDA. The indicator measures the level of debt in relation to the Group's operating performance, and provides a consistent basis for comparison with our peers.

• Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation & Amortization (EBITDA)

The IFRS item most similar to this alternative performance indicator is operating income.

The indicator corresponds to operating income before taking into account:

1. recurring depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets,
2. other income and expenses, and
3. depreciation and amortization related to the revaluation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets as part of the allocation of the purchase price of businesses.

This indicator is used to assess the Group's operating profitability and its ability to generate operating cash flow before changes in working capital, capital expenditure and cash flow from financing and tax expenses. It also facilitates period-to-period comparisons by eliminating non-recurring items, and provides a consistent basis for comparison with our peers.

• Recurring cash flow

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to free cash flow excluding non-recurring or exceptional items, i.e., non-recurring cash flow and exceptional capital expenditure. The indicator enables period-to-period comparisons by eliminating the impact of exceptional or non-recurring items and portfolio management, and provides a consistent basis for comparison with our peers. It is used to assess the Group's ability to generate cash to finance its shareholder returns, non-recurring or exceptional items and acquisitions.

• Free cash flow

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to net cash flow before taking into account net cash flow from portfolio management operations. It enables period-to-period comparisons by eliminating portfolio management, and provides a consistent basis for comparison with our peers.

• Net cash flow

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the sum of two IFRS items, cash flow from operations and cash flow from net investments. It provides an estimate of Group cash flow before changes in cash flow from financing activities.

• Net cash flow from portfolio management operations

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to cash flows from acquisitions and divestments as described in notes 3.2.2 “Acquisitions during the year” and 3.3 “Business divestments”.

• Non-recurring cash flow

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to cash flow from other income and expenses, as described in note 6.1.5 “Other income and expenses”.

• Operating cash flow

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to free cash flow before taking into account intangible assets and property, plant and equipment additions, adjusted for non-recurring cash flows. It is used to assess the Group's ability to generate cash to finance its intangible assets and property, plant and equipment additions, shareholder returns and acquisitions. It corresponds to and replaces the "Operating cash flow" indicator defined at the Capital Markets Day on 27 September 2023.

• Recurring capital expenditure

The IFRS item most similar to this alternative performance indicator is intangible assets and property, plant and equipment additions. Recurring capital expenditure includes all intangible assets and property, plant and equipment additions, adjusted for exceptional capital expenditure, investments linked to portfolio management operations and investments with no impact on net debt (financed by third parties). This indicator enables period-to-period comparisons by eliminating exceptional items, and provides a consistent basis for comparison with our peers.

• Exceptional capital expenditure

Alternative performance indicator corresponding to a very limited number of capital expenditure items for major development projects that the Group presents separately in its financial communication due to their size and nature.

• REBIT margin

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the recurring operating income (REBIT) to sales ratio. It facilitates period-to-period comparisons by eliminating non-recurring items, and provides a consistent basis for comparison with our peers.

• EBITDA margin

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the EBITDA to sales ratio. It facilitates period-to-period comparisons by eliminating non-recurring items, and provides a consistent basis for comparison with our peers. It is also one of the financial performance criteria linked to performance share plans.

• Recurring operating income (REBIT)

The IFRS item most similar to this alternative performance indicator is operating income. The indicator corresponds to operating income before taking into account:

1. depreciation and amortization related to the revaluation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets as part of the allocation of the purchase price of businesses, and
2. other income and expenses.

The indicator assesses the Group's operating profitability before tax and excluding non-recurring items, whatever the financing structure, since it does not take into account financial result. It facilitates period-to-period comparisons by eliminating non-recurring items, and provides a consistent basis for comparison with our peers.

• Adjusted net income

The IFRS item most similar to this alternative performance indicator is net income – Group share. This indicator corresponds to net income – Group share before non-recurring items. Exceptional or non-recurring items correspond to:

1. other income and expenses, net of applicable taxes,
2. depreciation and amortization related to the revaluation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets as part of the allocation of the purchase price of businesses, net of applicable taxes, and
3. one-time tax effects unrelated to other income and expenses and relating to events that are exceptional in terms of frequency and amount, such as the recognition or impairment of deferred tax assets, or the impact of a change in tax rates on deferred taxes.

This indicator enables us to assess the Group's profitability by taking account of not only operating items, but also the Group's financing structure and income taxes. It facilitates period-to-period comparisons by eliminating non-recurring items, and provides a consistent basis for comparison with our peers.

• Adjusted earnings per share

This alternative performance indicator is calculated by dividing adjusted net income for the period by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

• Diluted adjusted earnings per share

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to earnings per share adjusted for the dilutive effect of all potential ordinary shares. It is calculated by dividing adjusted net income for the period by the weighted average number of potential ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

• Return on capital employed (ROCE)

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the ratio of recurring operating income (REBIT) for the period to capital employed at the end of the period. It is used to assess the profitability of capital expenditure over time.

• Return on adjusted capital employed

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the ratio of recurring operating income (REBIT) for the period to the adjusted capital employed at the end of the period. It is used to assess the profitability of capital expenditure over time, by adjusting items relating to capital employed acquired during the period or in the course of disposal to bring them into line with the items used in REBIT.

• EBITDA to cash conversion rate

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the ratio of recurring cash flow to EBITDA. The indicator is used to assess the Group's ability to generate cash to finance, in particular, returns to shareholders, exceptional capital expenditure and acquisitions.

• EBITDA to operating cash conversion rate

This alternative performance indicator corresponds to the ratio of operating cash flow to EBITDA. The indicator provides a consistent basis for comparison between periods and with our peers, whatever the growth strategy adopted, whether external growth through acquisitions or internal growth through capital expenditure. It is also one of the financial performance criteria linked to performance share plans. It corresponds to and replaces the "Operating cash conversion rate" indicator defined at the Capital Markets Day on 27 September 2023.