Core Insights - Bureau Veritas has appointed Santiago Arias Duval as Executive Vice-President for the Americas region, effective November 17, 2025, aligning with the company's new operating model initiated on September 1, 2025 [2][4]. Company Structure and Strategy - The restructuring of the executive committee aims to enhance organizational alignment and empower regional operations with scalable product lines, facilitating global solutions development and cross-selling opportunities [3][4]. - The Americas region is established to capitalize on rapidly developing market opportunities across North, Central, and South America, with a focus on expanding leadership across product lines and creating strongholds in high-growth markets [4]. Leadership and Experience - Santiago Arias Duval will report to Hinda Gharbi, the CEO of Bureau Veritas, and will be part of the Group Executive Committee [5]. - Hinda Gharbi expressed confidence in Santiago's ability to drive growth and performance in the Americas, leveraging his extensive industrial experience and proven business achievements [6]. - Santiago has a strong background, having served as Senior Vice President and General Manager at Ingersoll Rand, where he was responsible for strategy, operations, and commercial performance across various industries [7][8]. Educational Background - Santiago holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology [10]. Company Overview - Bureau Veritas is a global leader in inspection, certification, and laboratory testing services, with a mission to ensure responsible progress and support customers in navigating change [12]. - Established in 1828, the company employs 84,000 people and operates in 140 countries, addressing challenges in quality, health and safety, environmental protection, and sustainability [13].

Core Insights - Bureau Veritas reported robust revenue performance in Q3 2025, with total revenue of EUR 1,583.7 million, reflecting a 2.3% year-on-year increase and a strong organic growth of 6.3% [10][8][11] - The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 outlook, supported by a solid backlog and a strong opportunities pipeline, with an organic growth rate of 6.6% for the first nine months of the year [4][5][21] - The LEAP | 28 strategy continues to drive the company's growth, with targeted acquisitions contributing to revenue and expanding capabilities in key sectors [6][14] Q3 2025 Key Figures - Revenue of EUR 1,583.7 million, up 2.3% year-on-year and up 6.3% organically [10][8] - Organic growth rates by segment: Marine & Offshore (+16.2%), Buildings & Infrastructure (+7.1%), Industry (+6.9%), Certification (+5.9%), Consumer Products Services (+3.5%), and Agri-Food & Commodities (+2.5%) [11][8] - Negative currency impact of 4.8% due to the euro's appreciation against most currencies [8][11] Financial Position - As of September 30, 2025, the company had net financial debt higher than in June 2025, with over EUR 0.5 billion in available cash and EUR 600 million in undrawn committed credit lines [12] - A EUR 700 million bond was successfully issued with a 3.375% coupon, maturing in October 2033, rated A3 by Moody's [13][12] Strategic Acquisitions - Bureau Veritas signed agreements for two acquisitions in October 2025, expected to generate approximately EUR 32 million in annualized revenue, enhancing its leadership in Buildings & Infrastructure and expanding its Renewables capabilities [6][14] - A total of eight acquisitions have been signed or closed year-to-date, adding EUR 92 million of annualized revenue [6][14] Regional Performance - Revenue growth by region: Europe (+5.2% organically), Asia-Pacific (+8.6% organically), Americas (+1.9% organically), and Africa & Middle East (+15.7% organically) [15] - Strong performance in Southern Europe and France, with double-digit growth in South and Southeast Asia [15] Business Segment Highlights - **Marine & Offshore**: Revenue of EUR 136.6 million, with a strong organic growth of 16.2% driven by new construction and core in-service activities [23][24] - **Agri-Food & Commodities**: Revenue of EUR 284.5 million, with organic growth of 2.5%, supported by strong performance in Metals & Minerals [27][29] - **Industry**: Revenue of EUR 337.7 million, with organic growth of 6.9%, driven by Oil & Gas and Power & Utilities segments [33][35] - **Buildings & Infrastructure**: Revenue of EUR 495.0 million, with organic growth of 7.1%, led by strong demand in the US and Asia-Pacific [41][42] - **Certification**: Revenue of EUR 131.7 million, with organic growth of 5.9%, reflecting strong demand for QHSE & Specialized Schemes solutions [46][48] - **Consumer Products Services**: Revenue of EUR 198.2 million, with organic growth of 3.5%, driven by strong performance in Healthcare and Supply Chain & Sustainability services [52][56]

Core Insights - UL Solutions and GCC Technical Services Company (TS Co.) have significantly enhanced their strategic partnership to advance fire safety in the Gulf region, with TS Co. now recognized as part of the UL Witness Test Data Program for fire safety [2][3][4] Partnership Details - TS Co. will conduct critical fire safety tests at its laboratories in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, under the supervision of UL Solutions engineers, which will streamline the testing and certification process [4][6] - This localized approach eliminates the need for international shipping of product samples, significantly accelerating time-to-market for manufacturers in the region [5] Regional Impact - The partnership is crucial as Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030, which includes significant projects like NEOM and the New Murabba project, representing over $1.5 trillion in investment and requiring high international fire safety standards [8] - TS Co. supports major manufacturing in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, by providing testing and certification services [7][11] Strategic Value - The collaboration combines UL Solutions' global leadership in safety science with TS Co.'s regional expertise, creating a strong value proposition for the market [9] - The partnership aims to ensure that construction projects in the region meet the highest international safety standards, thereby enhancing overall fire safety and conformity services [6][9]

Core Insights - The Fund underperformed the MSCI World ex USA Index for the quarter but has outperformed the benchmark since inception [5] - Consumer discretionary and materials sectors were the largest contributors to performance, while industrials and communication services were the largest detractors [5] - Geographically, the portfolio is heavily weighted towards Europe ex U.K. (68.4%), followed by the U.K. (11.5%) and Asia ex Japan (9.3%) [5] Performance Analysis - Kering was the top contributor during the quarter, driven by leadership changes and improving revenue trends [7] - CNH Industrial was the top detractor, facing weak results and soft demand, particularly in the U.S., but management expects a rebound in 2025 [8] Portfolio Activity - Six new positions were added to the Fund, while nine were exited during the quarter [9] - New purchases included Bunzl, which is expected to return to stable growth despite recent execution issues [10] - Dassault Systèmes, a leader in virtual twin technology, is viewed as a high-quality investment opportunity despite a nearly 40% decline in share price [11] Company Highlights - FEMSA, a diversified Latin American conglomerate, is well-positioned for growth through strategic divestments and share buybacks [12] - Hexagon has upgraded its management team and is expected to see improvements in return on capital employed and cash flow [13] - Siemens Healthineers is positioned for profitable growth in medical technology, with a favorable product cycle and turnaround in its diagnostics business [16] Investment Returns - The Fund's average annualized total returns show strong performance across various time frames, with the Institutional Class returning 26.51% year-to-date [18]

Group 1 - Bureau Veritas successfully completed a bond issuance of EUR 700 million, maturing in October 2033, with a coupon rate of 3.375% [2][3] - The bond issuance was oversubscribed by 2.4 times, indicating strong investor confidence in Bureau Veritas' business model and credit profile [3] - The bond will be rated A3 by Moody's, reflecting the company's solid credit standing [3] Group 2 - The new bond issuance is part of Bureau Veritas' LEAP | 28 strategy, aimed at leveraging favorable market conditions for general corporate purposes [3] - Admission of the bonds to trading on Euronext Paris is expected to take place on October 1, 2025 [4] - Crédit Agricole CIB and Natixis served as Global Coordinators and Active Joint Bookrunners for the bond issuance [4] Group 3 - Bureau Veritas is a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification services, with a mission to ensure responsible progress and sustainability [5][6] - The company has a workforce of 84,000 employees operating in 140 countries, addressing challenges in quality, health and safety, environmental protection, and sustainability [6] - Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and is part of the CAC 40 and CAC 40 ESG indices [7]

Core Viewpoint - Diginex Limited and SGS have reaffirmed their strategic alliance to enhance sustainable finance solutions, focusing on ESG requirements and innovative technology-driven services [1][2][3]. Group 1: Strategic Alliance Details - The renewed alliance builds on the initial agreement from 2022, which provided ESG data assurance services, and aims to address the increasing demand for transparent and scalable sustainable finance frameworks [2][3]. - The collaboration combines Diginex's ESG data management platforms with SGS's expertise in assurance, verification, and certification, enhancing tools and services for financial institutions and corporations [2][3]. Group 2: Key Highlights - The alliance aims to support clients in navigating sustainable finance complexities, enhancing the credibility of sustainability reporting, and accelerating efforts towards global climate and social objectives [3]. - Diginex's blockchain-enabled technology and SGS's assurance methodologies will provide transparency and reliability in ESG data, facilitating better decision-making for sustainable investments [6]. Group 3: Solutions and Services - The strategic alliance will develop tailored tools for financial institutions to integrate ESG metrics into their strategies, ensuring compliance with frameworks like the EU Taxonomy and SFDR [6]. - The collaboration will prioritize solutions that assist organizations in achieving net-zero targets, including carbon footprint assessments and sustainability reporting [6]. Group 4: Company Background - Diginex Limited is a sustainable RegTech business that utilizes blockchain, AI, and data analysis to enhance transparency in corporate regulatory reporting and sustainable finance [4]. - The diginexESG platform supports 19 global frameworks, providing end-to-end support for sustainability data management and reporting [5]. Group 5: SGS Overview - SGS is the world's leading testing, inspection, and certification company, operating over 2,500 laboratories across 115 countries, with a commitment to quality and sustainability [8].

Financial Performance - UL Solutions' 2024 revenue reached $2.9 billion[14] - The company achieved 8.7% organic revenue growth in 2024[14] - Adjusted EBITDA for 2024 was $656 million, representing a 22.9% margin[14, 42] - The average Free Cash Flow from 2022 to 2024 was $249 million, with a 9.2% margin[42] - Q1 2025 saw a 7.6% organic revenue increase and a 22.9% rise in Adjusted EBITDA[60] Business Segments - The Industrial segment generated $1.254 billion in revenue in 2024, with a 31.4% Adjusted EBITDA margin[25, 30] - The Consumer segment's 2024 revenue was $1.238 billion, with a 16.4% Adjusted EBITDA margin[25, 32] - Software and Advisory segment revenue reached $378 million in 2024, with a 15.6% Adjusted EBITDA margin[25, 34] Market Position and Growth - UL Solutions holds the 1 product TIC market share by revenue[21] - The outsourced product TIC market is projected to grow at a 5-6% CAGR from 2022-2026[26]

Summary of UL Solutions (ULS) FY Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: UL Solutions (ULS) - **Industry**: Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) - **Revenue**: $2.9 billion in the last fiscal year - **Customer Base**: Over 80,000 customers across more than 35 industries - **Global Presence**: 41% of revenue from the USA, 25% from Greater China, and the remainder from Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of Asia [12][18][22] Key Themes and Core Messages 1. **Mission-Driven Growth**: ULS emphasizes its mission of creating a safer world, which resonates with customers and their end-users [6][61] 2. **Safety Science Commitment**: The company focuses on applying safety science to help customers navigate challenges in innovation, security, and sustainability [7][62] 3. **Long-Term Customer Relationships**: ULS has a history of long-lived customer relationships, with many clients being with the company for over a century [8][62] 4. **Global Scale and Operating Leverage**: The company leverages its global scale to drive margin expansion and growth, having invested over $1.3 billion in acquisitions since 2010 [9][17] 5. **Financial Strength**: ULS maintains a healthy balance sheet and disciplined capital allocation, allowing for flexibility in growth strategies and shareholder returns [9][10] Market Dynamics - **Industry Size**: The TIC industry is valued at over $240 billion, with a significant portion being outsourced [17] - **Growth Drivers**: Key megatrends driving growth include energy transition, new mobility solutions, sustainability, digitalization, and regulatory compliance [20][22] - **Recurring Revenue**: 33% of ULS's revenue is recurring, stemming from ongoing certification services [15] Financial Performance and Projections - **EBITDA Margin**: The adjusted EBITDA margin was 22.9% last year, with a target of 24% for the current year [38][39] - **Growth Resilience**: ULS has demonstrated resilient growth, averaging nearly 7% compound annual growth over the past decade, even during economic shocks [33] Strategic Initiatives 1. **Capital Allocation**: ULS reinvests approximately 18% of revenue back into the business, focusing on organic growth and capacity expansion [46][48] 2. **M&A Strategy**: The company seeks acquisitions that enhance its capabilities in product testing, inspection, and certification, focusing on technical expertise and service extension [49][50] 3. **Software and Advisory Services**: ULS is optimistic about growth in its software segment, which supports product compliance and supply chain transparency [52][53] Additional Insights - **Impact of Tariffs**: ULS views tariffs as short-term challenges that can lead to increased demand for retesting and recertification services as manufacturers adapt [29][30] - **Energy Transition**: The electrification of various sectors is expected to significantly increase demand for ULS's services, particularly in testing and certification for new energy technologies [24][26] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the UL Solutions FY Conference Call, highlighting the company's strategic focus, market dynamics, and financial performance.

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenues increased by 5.2% year-over-year, with organic growth of 7.6% [6][15] - Adjusted EBITDA grew by 22.9% year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.8%, up 320 basis points [7][16] - Adjusted net income for Q1 was $80 million, a 31.1% increase from $61 million in the same quarter last year [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Industrial segment revenues rose by 8.1% organically, driven by ongoing certification services and certification testing [7][17] - Consumer segment revenues increased by 7.7% organically, with strong demand across consumer technology and retail products [7][19] - Software and Advisory segment revenues grew by 5.6% organically, with a 9.3% increase in the software service line [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Growth was observed across all geographic regions, with North America showing particular strength in both industrial and consumer segments [6][62] - The automotive electromagnetic compatibility laboratory in Japan is expected to address a growing market projected to reach $2.7 billion by 2030 [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on capacity expansions in HVAC testing facilities and developing a global fire science center to enhance market position [8][9] - Strategic M&A opportunities are being pursued to strengthen market position and drive margin and earnings improvement [26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the macroeconomic environment presents both risks and opportunities, but they reaffirmed their full-year 2025 outlook [13][25] - The company is monitoring key performance indicators closely to understand potential impacts from tariffs and macroeconomic conditions [12][13] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for 2025 is expected to be approximately 26%, up from 16.9% in 2024 due to the implementation of OECD's Pillar Two [26] - The company generated over $100 million in free cash flow and paid down $90 million of debt [7][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of tariffs on product redesign and manufacturing locations - Management indicated that customers have been making decisions regarding tariffs for several years, and while some adjustments are expected, no material impact has been observed currently [34] Question: M&A strategy in the current macro backdrop - The company continues to engage in conversations about various acquisition opportunities and remains active in pursuing growth through M&A [36] Question: Anticipated impact of tariffs on guidance - Management affirmed their guidance, indicating that they have accounted for increased uncertainty while maintaining confidence in their core business [41] Question: Moderation in new product launches - There has been no meaningful impact on innovation, and management remains close to customers regarding their new product development plans [42] Question: Context on margin expansion in Q1 - Strong operational execution and revenue growth contributed to significant margin improvement, particularly in the Industrial segment [46][48] Question: Growth by geography - North America, especially in industrial sectors, continues to show strong demand, with notable growth also in Asia [62]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenues increased by 5.2% year-over-year, with organic growth of 7.6% [7][16] - Adjusted EBITDA grew by 22.9% year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.8%, up 320 basis points [8][17] - Adjusted net income for Q1 was $80 million, a 31.1% increase from $61 million in the same quarter last year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Industrial segment revenues rose by 4.4% to $308 million, or 8.1% on an organic basis, driven by ongoing certification services and certification testing [18] - Consumer segment revenues were $304 million, up 6.3% year-over-year, or 7.7% on an organic basis, with strong demand across all service offerings [19] - Software and Advisory segment revenues increased by 4.5% year-over-year to $93 million, with organic growth of 5.6% [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Growth was observed across all geographic regions, with North America showing particular strength in both industrial and consumer segments [61] - The automotive electromagnetic compatibility laboratory in Japan is expected to address a growing market projected to reach $2.7 billion by 2030 [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on capacity expansions in HVAC testing facilities and developing a global fire science center of excellence [9][10] - Strategic investments are being made to align with megatrends such as global energy transition and digitalization [6][30] - The company aims to pursue strategic M&A opportunities to enhance margins and earnings [27] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management reaffirmed the full-year 2025 outlook despite increased macroeconomic uncertainties, expecting mid-single-digit organic revenue growth [25][26] - The company is monitoring key performance indicators closely to navigate potential risks and opportunities [14] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for 2025 is expected to be approximately 26%, up from 16.9% in 2024 due to new tax regulations [27] - Free cash flow for Q1 was $103 million, up from $84 million in the prior year [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of tariffs on product redesign and manufacturing - Management noted that customers have been making decisions regarding tariffs for several years, with some already shifting manufacturing locations [34] Question: M&A strategy in uncertain macro backdrop - The company continues to engage in conversations about various acquisition opportunities globally, emphasizing the importance of CapEx as a growth accelerator [36] Question: Anticipated impact of tariffs on guidance - Management affirmed guidance, indicating confidence based on current business visibility and order book [41] Question: Moderation in new product launches - There has been no meaningful impact on innovation, with management maintaining close relationships with customers regarding their product development plans [42] Question: Margin expansion context - Strong operational execution across segments contributed to significant margin improvement, particularly in the Industrial segment [46] Question: Growth by geography - North America, especially in industrial sectors, continues to show strong demand, with notable growth also in Asia [61]