Group 1 - Bekaert will initiate the next tranche of its share buyback program on May 16, 2025, with a total consideration of up to €25 million [1] - The completion of this tranche is expected to occur before the release of the H1 trading update, scheduled for July 31, 2025, depending on market conditions [1] - Bekaert will provide regular updates on the progress of the buyback program through press releases, as required by law, and this information will be accessible on the investor relations section of the company's website [1] Group 2 - All shares repurchased as part of the buyback program will be cancelled [2]

Core Viewpoint - Bekaert is navigating challenging market conditions due to tariffs and trade tensions, successfully passing on costs to customers while maintaining a strong balance sheet and stable sales expectations for 2025 [1][5]. Financial Highlights - Q1 2025 consolidated sales were €991 million, a decrease of 3% compared to Q1 2024, driven by a 1% decline in like-for-like volumes (€12 million), a 1% reduction from price-mix (€11 million), and a 2% pricing impact from lower input costs (€23 million) [4]. - Sales from joint ventures (non-consolidated) amounted to €214 million, down 2% from Q1 2024 [4]. - A proposed dividend of €1.90 per share at the AGM and an ongoing two-year €200 million share buyback program, with approximately €50 million purchased to date [4]. Operational and Strategic Highlights - The company has been able to mitigate tariff impacts through local sourcing and production, with minimal financial impact from tariffs to date [1][5]. - The Rubber Reinforcement segment showed strong performance in China, offsetting volume decreases in Europe and North America, while the Steel Wire Solutions segment reported solid sales performance [4]. - Specialty Businesses faced project delays in flooring in North America, but adoption is accelerating in growth markets [4]. Tariff Impacts - The introduction of tariffs has created significant uncertainty, leading to delayed orders and investment decisions from customers, particularly in the construction segment [2]. - The long-term effects of tariffs on end market demand and trade flows remain uncertain and could be material [2]. Outlook - The difficult market conditions from the second half of 2024 are expected to persist into Q1 2025, with ongoing uncertainty around tariffs and the global macroeconomic outlook [3]. - The company anticipates stable sales and EBIT margins for the full year 2025 compared to 2024, with a more balanced performance expected between the first and second halves of the year [5].

Share Buyback Program - Bekaert announced a new tranche of its share buyback program with a maximum consideration of up to €25 million, aimed at canceling all repurchased shares [1][2] - During the period from 3 April 2025 to 9 April 2025, a total of 70,000 shares were repurchased at an average price of €29.92, totaling €2,094,551 [2][6] Liquidity Agreement - Under the renewed liquidity agreement with Kepler Cheuvreux, Bekaert purchased 9,300 shares and sold 5,200 shares during the same period [3][5] - The total amount spent on purchasing shares under the liquidity agreement was €277,699, while the total amount received from sales was €155,210 [5] Shareholding Status - As of 9 April 2025, Bekaert holds 2,981,377 own shares, representing 5.49% of the total outstanding shares [6]