Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome, and thank you for joining the half-year 2025, 2026 results, which will be presented by the CEO, Markus Wittmann, and CFO, Benjamin Retzer. I'm Lorenzo, the Chorus Call operator. I would like to remind you that all participants will be in listen-only mode. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. You can register for questions at any time by pressing star and one on your telephone. For operator assistance, please press star and zero. At this time, it's my pleasure to hand over to Markus Wittmann. Please go ahead, sir.
Thank you very much, Lorenzo. So ladies and gentlemen, dear shareholders, thank you for joining us today for the half-year reporting of Novem Group. The first half of 2025 has presented us with a challenging market environment. Our revenues for quarter two reached EUR 125.5 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of nearly 10%. This downturn is primarily driven by continuous market weakness, especially in the tooling segment, where project delays have significantly impacted on our results. In contrast, our serial production business has shown signs of stabilization. Additionally, external disruptions have further strained our performance. The cyberattack at Jaguar Land Rover, first production halts directly affecting our supply chain. Similarly, BMW's partial production stoppage in China due to subdued demand contributed to reduced volumes and revenue.
These factors have necessarily influenced our EBIT, which closed at 6.1% for the period. However, our strict cost management, particularly focused on central function, is beginning to yield in a manifest result. One of the most encouraging development is our free cash flow, which improved significantly to EUR 15.8 million, compared to EUR 3.6 million in the same period last year. This demonstrates our resilience and operational discipline. Despite the difficult market conditions, we successfully secured new and attractive orders, including from new customers. We welcome McLaren as a new client in our customer portfolio. Furthermore, our strategic expansion into a broader mobility market is bearing fruit, with our first pre-development order from Harley-Davidson. With the serial business no longer declining, we believe we have reached the bottom of the cycle.
Nevertheless, project postponements by various OEMs continue to weigh in our outlook. Through continued rigorous cost control, we aim to stabilize performance at current level for a full year, even when we see a weak Q3 ahead of us. Our broad strategic positioning across the mobility sector will support this stabilization, even if the impact is not immediately visible in our financials. Saying this, I'd like to go ahead with financial highlights of the quarter two, and starting, as mentioned already, with the revenue, which ended in Q2 at EUR 125.5 million, which is as said a decline of around about 10%. Adjusted EBIT ended up at EUR 7.7 million, with a margin of 6.1%, compared to last year's 8.6%.
Our free cash flow increased to EUR 15.8 million, and net leverage ended up slightly higher at 2.0x adjusted EBITDA. Going ahead with the financial highlights of the half year, technical issue or no? With going ahead with the highlights of half year, revenue came up to EUR 254.5 million, which is a 9% decrease of last year's. Adjusted EBIT ended up at EUR 15.4 million, and the margin at 6.0%, compared to last year's 9.4%. Free cash flow, as already said, very good, with EUR 17.2 million, and net leverage in line with Q2 at 2.0x, compared to last year's, we had 1.9.
So saying this to the highlights, I'd like to hand over to my colleague, Benjamin, to give you more financial details. Benjamin, please.
Thank you very much, Markus. So also, good afternoon, good morning from my side, and thank you for joining our earnings call for the second quarter of our financial year, 2025-2026. So I will walk you through our financial and operational performance, provide you insights into the regional developments, and share our outlook and strategic priorities moving forward. So in the second quarter of our financial year, 2025-2026, total revenue amounted to EUR 125.5 million, representing a decline of EUR -13.8 million, or -9.9%, compared to the same period last year. At constant foreign exchange rates, revenue would have been higher by EUR 4.2 million, reflecting a 3.5% increase year-over-year.
Sales revenue came in at EUR 116.1 million, so down EUR 3.4 million, or -2.9% versus prior year, and accounted for 92.4% of total revenue. The decrease was mainly driven by ongoing weak customer call-offs, most notably in Asia, and additionally, as already mentioned, temporary production holds at JLR following a cyberattack and at BMW China, led to revenue losses for the quarter under review. These disruptions underline the vulnerability of global automotive supply chains to external shocks, even as OEMs strive to stabilize operations. Looking at the broader market, the light vehicle production grew by 4.4% year-over-year during the quarter. However, the industry continues to face structural challenges. OEMs recalibrating production schedules amid supply chain volatility and geopolitical uncertainties.
The premium and luxury segments under pressure due to uneven consumer demand and delayed program ramp-ups, and accelerating electrification and digitalization trends, creating transitional inefficiencies and uneven regional growth. Tooling revenue contributed EUR 9.5 million, significantly below the previous year by EUR -10.4 million, or -52.3%, primarily due to the project delays and back-end loaded phasing. So also a trend reflecting the OEM caution in committing to new tooling and project investments. On a last 12 months basis, total revenue stood at EUR 516.5 million, showing a slight decline of 2.6% compared to the previous quarter. While the market experienced growth, our performance in the top end and premium luxury segment was affected by customer-related factors, highlighting the importance of operational agility and strategic positioning.
The adjusted EBIT in quarter two remained broadly in line with the preceding quarter, delivering a 6.1% margin, compared to 8.6% in the prior year. The year-over-year decline reflects persistent margin pressures across the automotive supply chain. So lower turnover continued to weigh on our profitability, resulting in a weak cost coverage and underutilized capacity, a challenge driven by OEM production adjustments amid volatile demand. The tooling segment contributed less favorably this quarter due to project phasing differences versus the prior year, further diluting the bottom line. Importantly, the operating result was not materially impacted by one-off items, underscoring that the performance was rooted in core operations. Notably, recently implemented cost control initiatives, particularly in central functions in Germany, are starting to take effect. These measures include especially tighter overhead management, process streamlining, and selective investment prioritization.
Looking ahead, maintaining profitability will require continued focus on operational excellence, disciplined cost management, and leveraging strategic partnerships to secure new business opportunities in growth segments and emerging mobility solutions. The free cash flow for quarter two reached EUR 15.8 million, marking a substantial improvement compared to the prior year. This strong performance underscores our ability to generate liquidity even in a challenging revenue environment, underlining Novem's resilience and reflects disciplined capital allocation, combined with effective working capital management. The key drivers of operating cash flow in the amount of EUR 17.3 million are the reduction in other assets through tighter control over non-trade items and improved management of VAT and miscellaneous receivables.
The increase in provisions of EUR 10.5 million is mainly attributable to a reduction in provisions in the prior period, in the amount of EUR -7.1 million, and a return to a more normalized provisioning in the reporting period under review, as well as additional positive timing effects in the amount of EUR 1.4 million from accrual movements. These gains were partially offset by lower profit for the prior period and other non-cash expenses. The cash outflow for investing activities amounted to EUR -1.5 million, well below last year's level, primarily due to the reduced capital expenditures. This selective investment approach aligns with our strategy to preserve liquidity while continuing to support growth projects, particularly in our plant in Plzeň, in the Czech Republic.
So on a last twelve months basis, free cash flow improved to EUR 45.1 million, up EUR 12.2 million, or 37.2% compared to the preceding quarter. As already mentioned, this trajectory demonstrates resilience and positions us well to balance short-term challenges with long-term strategic priorities. The capital expenditure totaled EUR 2.4 million, which is EUR 2.1 million lower than the same period last year. The underlying CapEx ratio stood at 1.9%, down from 3.3% in the prior year, again, underscoring our disciplined approach. Nearly half of the quarterly investments, approximately EUR 1.2 million, were directed towards our Plzeň facility. As already mentioned, primarily growth related to support the ramp-up of new customer programs. Beyond the investments in Plzeň, the majority of CapEx was linked to other strategic projects and infrastructure preparation for upcoming programs.
On a last twelve months basis, the CapEx ratio declined from 2.7%- 2.4%, reflecting our commitment to maintaining this agility and prioritizing investments that deliver long-term value, while safeguarding liquidity. As of September 2025, the total working capital stood at EUR 137.2 million, so slightly lower than last year by -1.5%. Last year, in absolute numbers, we stood at EUR 139.3 million. So this modest improvement reflects our ongoing efforts to optimize liquidity and enhance operational efficiency. The year-over-year deviation of EUR 2.1 million was primarily attributable to lower inventories, driven by a decline in raw material stock levels, reflecting tighter inventory discipline and alignment with reduced production volumes.
However, across all regions, we implemented rigorous working capital management measures in response to the subdued customer demand and slower ramp-ups. A further point to mention for that deviation is a decrease in contract assets linked to timing of project milestones and revenue recognition. These positive effects were partially offset by lower trade payables, resulting from the beforementioned reduced purchasing volumes and payment timing. Higher trade receivables, reflecting customer-side timing effects and the tooling net position related to ongoing tooling activity and project transitions. As a percentage of last 12 months revenue, total working capital recorded at 26.6%, compared to 24.5% in the prior year. While this represents a slight increase, it remains within a manageable range and is largely attributable to the decline in revenue.
Trade working capital, excluding the tooling net and the contract assets position, showed a positive trend, improving to EUR 47.8 million from EUR 49 million last year. Then the days outstanding metrics. So the DIO improved to 39 days from 44 days last year, highlighting again our efforts to reduce excess stock and align inventory levels with actual demand. DLO, stable at 31 days versus 30 days prior year, and the DPO declined to 39 days from 46 days, reflecting lower purchasing activity and payment cycles. Overall, our working capital performance in quarter two demonstrates a strong commitment to liquidity management and financial resilience, especially in a market environment characterized by regional volatility and macroeconomic uncertainty.
Coming to the capital structure, so the gross financial debt stood at EUR 292.1 million, which is EUR 9.8 million lower than the prior year's figure of EUR 301.9 million. And again, this demonstrates the ongoing efforts to strengthen the balance sheet. These liabilities, included in gross financial debt, amounted to EUR 41.5 million, also down from EUR 51.9 million in the prior year. Our liquidity position remains one of our strongest assets and key differentiator in the current market environment. So as of 30 September 2025, the cash and cash equivalents totaled EUR 153.4 million, and therefore, up from EUR 132.4 million last year.
In addition, we maintained EUR 37.4 million in non-recourse factoring, slightly below the prior year's level of EUR 40.3 million, demonstrating stability in our receivables financing activities. As a result, net financial debt was EUR 138.7 million, showing a significant improvement compared to EUR 169.5 million in the prior year. So this reduction underscores our commitment to deleveraging and preserving financial flexibility. The net leverage ratio stood at 2.0x adjusted EBITDA, so broadly in line with the prior year's 1.9. And this slight movement reflects, as mentioned, a stable capital structure despite margin pressure. While EBITDA declined over the last 12 months due to that lower revenue and cost coverage challenges, this was effectively counterbalanced by a strong cash generation and liquidity management.
So looking ahead, continued profitability recovery, combined with sustained cash discipline, will remain key priorities to further strengthen our balance sheet. Then, coming to the operating segments. So the segmental revenue declined across all regions in the second quarter, with a total decrease of EUR -13.8 million year-over-year, driven primarily by the Americas region. This development reflects the impact of project phasing and temporary production disruptions across key markets. So the revenue in Europe decreased by EUR -5.8 million compared to the prior year, predominantly due to differently phased tooling business. Series business remained stable at last year's level, supported by ongoing customer programs, such as the Series business with a major U.S. EV manufacturer and pricing adjustments.
The Americas recorded a revenue decline of EUR -6.9 million year-over-year, and similar to Europe, this shortfall was mainly attributable to project phasing effects in the tooling, while series sales remained flat. Despite these challenges, the region continues to represent the largest share of group revenue. In Asia, the revenue fell by EUR -1.2 million year-over-year, negatively impacted by series business. This was primarily driven by continued weak call-offs, for example, BMW X5, worsened by the aforementioned temporary production hold, as well as lower volumes for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. These factors underlying the volatility in the Chinese premium segment and the sensitivity of regional performance to OEM production schedules. Adjusted EBIT showed a similar development to revenue across all segments, with a total decrease of EUR -4.3 million versus the prior year, reflecting that volume-related inefficiencies and margin pressures.
Adjusted EBIT in Europe remained negative at EUR -7.3 million, compared to EUR -6.9 million last year. So the operating performance in Europe was again affected by the poor, poor top line development, while fixed costs at the central office in Germany, in particular, could not be scaled down in line with the decline in revenue. However, also what we heard already today, continued cost management and restructuring measures helped to partially, partially mitigate these negative impacts. The Americas region delivered a strong profitability with adjusted EBIT of EUR 15.0 million, slightly below the prior year's EUR 17.3 million. The shortfall was primarily impacted by an adverse product mix, U.S. tariffs, and a negative FX effect. Adjusted EBIT in Asia came in at, more or less breakeven, down from EUR 1.6 million last year.
Decline reflects lower revenue caused by recalls for our key models and temporary production holds. On a group perspective, and on a last twelve months basis, adjusted EBIT declined by -10.2%, from EUR 42.4 million- EUR 38.1 million, reflecting these cumulative effects of revenue softness and cost absorbed and challenges. In summary, our quarter two was marked by continued market softness, project phasing effects, and temporary production disruptions, which impacted both revenue and profitability. Despite these headwinds, we delivered strong progress in our key financial areas in terms of a robust free cash flow generation, improved liquidity and reduced net debt, and a stable capital structure, maintaining leverage within acceptable limits. Looking ahead, our focus remains on driving operational execution and efficiency, preserving financial flexibility, and supporting profitability recovery through cost discipline.
Leveraging strategic opportunities, including new business wins, as mentioned by Markus. So we are confident in our ability to navigate the current environment and for sure continue to work closely with all our customers. So thank you for your continued trust and support, and we'll now open the line for your questions.
We will now begin the question and answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on their touch tone telephone. You will hear a tone to confirm that you are entering the queue. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two. Participants are requested to use only headset while asking a question. Anyone who has a question may press star and one at this time. The first question comes from the line of Alexandre Raverdy from Kepler Cheuvreux. Please go ahead, sir.
Good afternoon. Thanks for taking the questions. The first one relates to the outlook, because you mentioned a weak Q3 ahead. So could you please elaborate on that, maybe giving more details between series and tooling revenues and also an outlook by region, and what to expect versus the 6% margin that you have reported year to date? And the second question is on the new business wins. First, with McLaren, can you give us an idea on the start of production, and the content of vehicle? I guess somewhere between 2027 and 2028, which would be in line with their new model launches, but just confirmation would be helpful. And secondly, on this development project with Harley-Davidson.
Two-wheelers, I think, were not really a vertical that you flagged in the past, so could you please elaborate a bit more on the rationale, the components you would address and also the content of vehicle opportunity? Thank you.
So Alexander, thank you for your question. So, in terms of your first questions, to give you a kind of flavor, in terms of outlook. So, you know that we are not giving a forecast towards year-end closing. But nevertheless, as you see also in the past, the quarter three is for sure, which is calendar year quarter four, a bit under pressure in terms of revenue, especially as we have Thanksgiving in November, and then only a half of the month in December due to the winter period and then the closure of the production plant.
So I think that's more or less in line with what you have seen in prior times. But for sure, therefore, a kind of weak quarter three, because we are also in that quarter one and quarter two, what we are reported recently, we are a bit below the prior year's numbers, and therefore that was that linkage to a weak quarter three. But I think it's in line with the expectations of also the prior years. For sure, what we are also seeing and what we also stated out during the presentation is the tooling business and the postponement of projects and project closures.
So we faced that already during the first half year, and we will for sure see that during quarter three, and as we mentioned, it's more back-end loaded, so it will be more or less cumulated in our quarter four, which is then the quarter one next calendar year. So tooling business will majority materialize in that fourth quarter, and not really supporting the quarter three. So that's more or less in regards of that outlook. And for sure, what we mentioned and what we highlighted is the back-end loaded tooling segment.
This for sure will help us at the end of the day, and for the full year perspective in terms of our bottom line, to for sure improve that number a bit. For sure we see already the effects starting with that cost management and cost control initiatives we rolled out, especially in the central offices here in Germany, that will also yield and support the bottom line towards a higher number towards year end, based and comparable to the consensus. So I think that's more or less the outlook what we can give in terms of quarter three, as well as then the full year perspective in terms of our bottom line.
The new business wins, we stated, I will comment on the McLaren business. So yes, that's true. We saw that messages also today morning with the McLaren business, and that's in line with what we read in the news. Also that SOP will then take place 2027-2028. And yeah, we are quite confident and happy to be back in that business with McLaren. We had already business with McLaren prior times, and couple of years ago, and now back in that business also with that relaunch of their portfolio, and we are quite happy about that win and that business with McLaren.
Then I think Markus will comment on the Harley-Davidson, you know.
Thank you, Benjamin. Alexander, I will talk about Harley-Davidson. So as you may know, we already last years broadened our portfolio when we went into the exterior parts. Yeah, that was where we have already one big business in place. And at this time, we already broadened our portfolio and spoke to different mobility manufacturers. So one of this is also two-wheelers. Yes, and we have our PUR technology in place, which is able to be also in exterior. And for sure, two-wheelers are everything is in exterior. And with Harley-Davidson, we are developing now for a new model two parts in the front of this two-wheeler. Yeah. That's what we are doing.
As said, it is a pre-development, but it's looking very promising that it will become serious production. Hopefully, we could answer your questions.
Yes, you did. Thank you very much.
Thank you.
As a reminder, if you wish to register for a question, please press star and one on your telephone. Ladies and gentlemen, that there are no more question at this time. Oh, I'm sorry. There's a question that's come from the line of Zachary Olson, from Drum Hill Capital LLC. Please go ahead, sir.
Hi, gentlemen. Thanks for taking my call, or question rather. Just wanted to inquire a little bit more about how you're thinking about the environment going forward. I know that obviously you don't provide sort of, you know, a great deal of visibility into that typically. But do you think that, you know, we may, in the coming quarters, begin to see a bit of a recovery? And, you know, as a follow-up to that, I mean, I think the answer is yes, but do you think that sort of the efforts you've undertaken as far, under things like working capital management, and so, you know, could translate to some operating leverage when that recovery finally materializes? Thanks.
Zachary, thank you for your question. So for sure, you already guessed the answer for sure. Yes, we see some positive prospects already then in the next calendar year. But nevertheless, we should not be too positive here. I think a realistic view is the right perspective on our sector, our segment, which is the automotive supplier industry. I think with all our efforts in terms of working capital management, in terms of cost control initiatives, for sure, we are reacting on the broader environment to secure our numbers, our bottom line.
But nevertheless, with all that, for sure, measurements, we need to adjust to that lower volume we see. I think we will see that volumes going further. There will be no sharp increase in the next 9 months-12 months, so that's not a realistic view on it. But nevertheless, with all our measurements we did couple of months, couple of quarters ago, with the measurements still to come, at least in terms of margins, we should see a recovery here. That's for sure true, and what we already mentioned, we are very actively and active in exploring new opportunities. What we mentioned, we won new customers back into our portfolio.
We are exploring into comprehensive mobility segment, so that should also help and support our overall business, because our products, they are well developed, positioned, and now we need to find new ways to place the products, and to have more volume in our business back with that new exploring options. And then I think we are well prepared also for the future.
All right. Makes sense. Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Ladies and gentlemen, that was the last question. I would now like to turn the conference back over to Markus Wittmann and Benjamin Retzer for any closing remarks.
Yeah, thank you. So I would like to thank you for your positive participation in today's meeting. Furthermore, for your trust and continuous support. Together, we will navigate these challenges and shape, I'm pretty sure, a strong future for Novem. So again, thank you very much for participation.
Also, it's so far, so thank you. Thank you very much from my side. Take care. Bye-bye.
Bye.
Ladies and gentlemen, the conference is now over.