Brookfield Business Partners L.P.(BBU) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $575 million compared to $844 million in the prior period, reflecting lower ownership in three businesses following the partial sale of Anktrus and including $77 million of tax benefits [15] - Adjusted EFO for the quarter was $284 million, benefiting from lower current tax expense and reduced interest expense due to decreased corporate borrowings [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The industrial segment generated third quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $316 million compared to $500 million in the prior period, with a 17% increase in performance when including tax benefits [16] - The business services segment's Adjusted EBITDA was $188 million compared to $228 million last year, impacted by the sale of a partial interest in dealer software and technology services [17] - The infrastructure services segment generated Adjusted EBITDA of $104 million compared to $146 million during the same quarter last year, reflecting the sale of offshore oil services and a partial interest in work access services [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The broader global economy has remained resilient, with public markets at record highs and transaction activity increasing due to declining global interest rates [7][8] - The company has seen a significant increase in its consolidated market cap by nearly $1 billion following the announcement of a corporate structure simplification [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on capital recycling, having generated over $2 billion in proceeds and repaid $1 billion of borrowings, while also investing $525 million in strategic growth acquisitions [4] - Plans to simplify corporate structure aim to improve trading liquidity and increase demand for shares from index investors [5] - The company is leveraging AI to enhance operational capabilities and drive value creation [6][50] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism heading into the fourth quarter, noting strong operational performance and a robust investment environment [7][45] - The company remains focused on organic growth and operational improvements rather than pursuing new concessions in the BRK business [24] Other Important Information - The company has a pro forma liquidity of approximately $2.9 billion at the corporate level, providing flexibility for growth and capital allocation [19] - A buyback program has been launched, allowing for the repurchase of an additional 8 million units and shares [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Regarding BRK and potential IPO - Management confirmed that an IPO is one option for monetizing BRK, but the capital markets environment in Brazil remains challenging [22] Question: On La Trobe's regulatory issues - Management clarified that the issues are primarily disclosure-related and have not impacted the underlying fundamentals of the business [26] Question: On DexKo's performance outlook - Management indicated that DexKo is performing well, with signs of recovery in market demand, and expressed optimism for the coming year [46]