Summary of Sodexo Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Sodexo S.A. - **Industry**: Food and services Key Points and Arguments 1. **CEO Appointment**: Thierry Delaporte has been appointed as the new CEO of Sodexo, effective November 10, 2025, marking a significant governance change for the company [3][4][10] 2. **Transformation Journey**: The company has completed a deep transformation to reposition itself as a pure-play food and services company, entering a new phase focused on commercial acceleration and operational execution [3][4] 3. **Market Position**: Sodexo operates in a dynamic and expanding market, with a resilient business model that benefits from recurring demand and strong cash flows [4] 4. **Performance Expectations**: Current performance is below expectations, indicating a need for a new leadership approach to unlock the company's full potential [4][10] 5. **Leadership Transition**: Sophie Bellon will transition to a non-executive chairwoman role, working closely with Delaporte to ensure a smooth transition [4][10] 6. **Selection Process**: The board conducted a thorough search for the new CEO, focusing on candidates with experience in leading publicly listed companies in international environments, particularly in the U.S. market [6][8] 7. **Delaporte's Background**: Delaporte has over a decade of experience in the U.S. and has led significant transformations at Capgemini and Wipro, increasing revenue and market capitalization [8][20][33] 8. **Focus on B2B Services**: Delaporte's strong B2B services background and client-centric mindset are seen as valuable assets for Sodexo's future [8][9] 9. **Operational Goals**: The new CEO is expected to conduct a thorough review of the business, with a focus on improving margins and operational execution [12][14][43] 10. **M&A Strategy**: There is a renewed focus on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to increase market share, particularly in the U.S. [34][35] Additional Important Content 1. **Financial Guidance**: The company is currently in a quiet period and cannot provide guidance on fiscal 2025 or 2026 results until the next earnings call on October 23 [12][13] 2. **Geographical Focus**: Delaporte will be based in Paris but will also have a home in the U.S., indicating a focus on both markets [45] 3. **Cultural Fit**: Delaporte embodies the values of humanity, openness, and responsibility that are central to Sodexo's culture [9] 4. **Future Ambitions**: The board aims to strengthen market share and mobilize the right leadership team to accelerate commercial momentum [43][44] 5. **Governance Structure**: The board is committed to ensuring that Delaporte has the necessary support to implement his strategies effectively [38][39] This summary captures the essential points discussed during the conference call, highlighting the strategic direction and leadership changes at Sodexo.

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company purchased $347 million of portfolios during the quarter, with $199 million in The Americas and $147 million in Europe [25] - The year-to-date purchase price multiple for 2025 was 2.14 times for Americas Core and 1.82 times for Europe Core, reflecting an upward trend in purchase price multiples [25] - ERC grew to a record $8.3 billion at the end of Q2, up 22% year over year and 6% sequentially [26] - Cash collections for the quarter were $536 million, up 13% from the prior year period [27] - Net income attributable to PRA was $42 million or $1.08 in diluted earnings per share, including a $30 million after-tax gain from the sale of equity interest in Brazil [34] - Adjusted EBITDA grew 20% this quarter, reflecting strong cash collections growth and disciplined expense management [35] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q2 US legal cash collections grew 24% year over year to $119 million, indicating strong performance in the legal channel [28] - Total portfolio revenue was $284 million for the quarter, up 1%, while portfolio income was $251 million, up 20% [29] - Operating expenses were $203 million, up 4% from the prior year, driven by increases in professional services and legal collection costs [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall buying environment in The US is described as elevated, with attractive opportunities to deploy capital [43] - The competitive dynamic in Europe is more rational compared to previous years, with fewer new entrants overpaying for portfolios [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three core strategic pillars: optimizing investments, operational execution, and managing expenses [14] - A restructuring of US operations is underway to create a more empowered operational team, aiming for improved accountability and faster decision-making [61] - The company plans to modernize its US technology platform, leveraging successful strategies from its European operations [20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to drive change and deliver value, citing a strong foundation built through decades of experience [10] - The company expects portfolio supply to remain elevated in The US and stable in Europe, with a focus on higher return opportunities [26] - Management acknowledged that financial performance is not yet where desired but is committed to implementing necessary changes [39] Other Important Information - The company has no debt obligations maturing until 2027, providing ample funding capacity and financial flexibility [36] - A stock repurchase of $10 million was executed during the quarter, with plans to evaluate further opportunities to enhance shareholder value [37] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide insights on the US supply and opportunity? - Management noted that the buying environment in The US is elevated, with strong seller relationships and opportunities to expand into new asset classes [43][45] Question: How should we think about the legal channel's role in the collection mix? - The legal channel is important but not the primary approach; it is used when customers do not engage voluntarily, and its value is maximized through sophisticated analysis [48][49] Question: What drove the collections overperformance in Q2? - Overperformance was attributed to strong operational initiatives and a favorable consumer position in various markets [57] Question: Can you elaborate on the restructuring in the US? - The restructuring aims to create a more empowered operational team with accountability for cash performance and costs, measured on a single P&L [61][62] Question: What are the expectations for cost savings from restructuring? - Management indicated that while cost savings are a focus, immediate impacts on numbers are not expected, and the emphasis is on operational efficiency [75][76]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 19% growth in portfolio purchases, with net income at $4 million, or $0.09 in diluted earnings per share, which was lower than in recent quarters due to moderated changes in expected recoveries [6][30] - Adjusted EBITDA grew by 13% year over year, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of growth [7][30] - Cash efficiency ratio improved to 61%, up from 58% in the prior year period [29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. legal cash collections increased by 33% year over year to $111 million, driven by reduced cycle times and optimized post-judgment activities [8] - Portfolio income for the quarter was $241 million, up 19% year over year, reflecting increased portfolio investments and improved returns [25] - Total portfolio revenue was $269 million for the quarter, with changes in expected recoveries amounting to $28 million [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company purchased $292 million of portfolios during the quarter, with $178 million in the Americas and $113 million in Europe [21] - The expected cash collections from the current ERC balance is approximately $1.8 billion over the next twelve months [22] - Cash collections for the quarter were $497 million, up 11% from the prior year, with U.S. core cash collections up 20% [23][26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing investments, operational execution, and managing expenses as part of its three strategic pillars [7][10] - The leadership transition aims to leverage successful strategies from the European business to enhance global operations [11][15] - The company plans to continue investing judiciously in portfolios while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital deployment [17][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted a positive level of consumer engagement, with no significant signs of weakening consumer behavior despite a mismatch in cash collection expectations [38][40] - The macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, prompting a cautious approach to future cash generation expectations [44][47] - The company expects portfolio supply to remain elevated in the U.S. and stable in Europe, supporting ongoing investment opportunities [23][58] Other Important Information - The company completed the sale of its equity interest in Brazil, generating an estimated after-tax gain of approximately $28 million [32][70] - The effective tax rate for the quarter was 32%, with expectations for the full year to be in the mid-20s [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the state of the consumer and tax refund season? - Management indicated that tax refunds were normal and consumer engagement remains positive, with no signs of a decline in consumer activity [37][38] Question: What are the implications of the reduction in earnings guidance? - The reduction reflects the first quarter's performance and a cautious outlook due to macroeconomic uncertainties [44][46] Question: Will legal collection costs continue to be elevated? - Legal collection costs are expected to increase but at a much lower level than in the previous year [67][68] Question: How should noncontrolling interest be modeled? - Noncontrolling interest relates to investments in Brazil, with gains recognized from exiting a stake in a servicing company [69][70]