Ebusco expects revenue in excess of EUR 300 million for 2024

Confirmation of full year guidance for 2023

Deurne, 13 December 2023 – As indicated during the third quarter update 2023, Ebusco (Euronext: EBUS) today provides an update with respect to its progress in 2023, outlook for the full year 2024 and other operational developments. In conjunction, Ebusco announces an accelerated bookbuild offering and concurrent convertible bond private placement in a separate press release. 

Narrowing of the 2023 guidance 

Based on the current production in Deurne and the development at our assembly partners, Ebusco narrows its revenue guidance for the full year 2023 to arrive in the range of EUR 145-155 million, which reflects the lower half of the guidance as provided at the Q3 update.  

Operational expansion outside of Deurne is on track with the first serial produced 3.0 buses successfully assembled at our assembly partners in China and ready to be shipped this year. Furthermore, the first cascos based on a local supply chain have been completed at our assembly partner and the commencement of production at our plant in Rouen is on track. 

Supply chain imbalances continue to impact our business as missing components lead to inefficiencies and additional costs. However, Ebusco continues to make progress on the efficiency of its assembly lines and expects a significant improvement of EBITDA in 2H23 compared to 1H23.  

Outlook 2024: revenue in excess of EUR 300 million and a positive EBITDA  

Fully based on the execution of existing customer orders for 2024, Ebusco expects revenue to be in excess of EUR 300m for the full year 2024. Furthermore, Ebusco confirms that it expects to achieve a positive EBITDA for the full year 2024. Ebusco will provide narrower guidance on the EBITDA outlook in the course of 2024. 

As of the first quarter of 2024, Ebusco will implement cost measures that have been developed in recent months to lower its indirect cost base and bring the direct cost base in line with the adapted assembly strategy. 

Funding initiatives 

To cover the working capital need in relation to the 2024 guidance, Ebusco simultaneously announces in a separate press release the launch of an accelerated bookbuild offering and concurrent convertible bond private placement. Ebusco will convene an extraordinary general meeting on 29 January 2024 to request the required shareholder approvals. 

To further increase its financial flexibility, Ebusco is having constructive and advanced discussions with lenders to extend and increase its existing bank guarantee/letter of credit facility. The structure under discussion is similar to the structure that Ebusco successfully deployed in the past to shorten its cash cycle. 

Organisational changes 

Bob Fleuren has informed the Management Board and Supervisory Board of Ebusco that he will not stand for re-election as COO at the end of his current term (May 2024 AGM).  

Bob remains highly supportive of the adapted assembly strategy, which he co-initiated. However, he has decided that his personal ambitions lie elsewhere, and he will be looking to pursue these outside of Ebusco. During his remaining tenure, Bob will continue his work with the same dedication and commitment to Ebusco, its employees and customers. A search for a replacement COO has been initiated, with a view to further align the composition of the management board with the adapted assembly strategy. 

Furthermore, Ebusco has appointed Mr. Frank Meurs as an advisor to the management board with the intention to nominate him for a position on the supervisory board at the AGM in May 2024. Frank brings with him a wealth of experience in the fields of business development, operations and supply chain.  

Most recently, Frank acted as the managing director of Toray Advanced Composites EMEA. Prior to that, he was chief operating officer of Ten Cate Advanced Composites Global. With this background, Frank will provide invaluable support to both the management and supervisory boards and the broader company as Ebusco scales up its business. 

Capital Markets Day 2024 

Ebusco will organize a Capital Markets Day in the second quarter of 2024 to provide more insight in market developments, its long-term strategy, and technological roadmap. 

Important information

The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. There will be no public offer of the securities referred to herein in the United States.

Disclaimer

Some statements in this press release may be considered ’forward-looking statements’. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may occur in the future. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are outside of our control and impossible to predict and may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, analyses and projections about the industry in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions about possible future events. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which only express views as at the date of this press release and are neither predictions nor guarantees of possible future events or circumstances. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities law.

This press release contains information that qualifies or may qualify, as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.