Q2 2026 SMG Swiss Marketplace Group Holding AG Earnings Call

August 25, 2026

Operator: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group H1 2026 webcast for analysts, investors, and media representatives. Today's call will be hosted by Christoph Tonini, CEO, and Boris Gussen, CFO of SMG. I will now hand over to Christoph to begin today's webcast.

Speaker #1: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the SMG Swiss Marketplace Group half-year 2026 webcast for analysts, investors, and media representatives. Today's call will be hosted by Christoph Tannini, CEO, and Boris Gusson, CFO of SMG.

Speaker #1: I will now hand over to Christoph to begin today's webcast.

Speaker #2: Thank you very much. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. Before we start, I'd like to briefly draw your attention to the disclaimer on page 2 of our presentation.

Christoph Tonini: Thanks a lot. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today. Before we start, I'd like to briefly draw your attention to the disclaimer on page 2 of our presentation. My name is Christoph Tonini. I'm the CEO of SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, and I'm sitting here in Zurich together with our CFO, Boris Gussen. I'm flipping to page 4, and before we move to our half-year performance, I would like to briefly address an important leadership development we announced this morning. I have been discussing my longer-term plans with the board for some time now. A few months ago, I informed them that I felt 2027 would be the right time to transition out of the CEO role.

Speaker #2: My name is Christoph Tannini. I'm the CEO of Swiss Marketplace Group, and I'm sitting here in Zurich together with our CFO, Boris Gusson. I'm flipping to page 4, and before we move to our half-year performance, I would like to briefly address an important leadership development we announced this morning.

Speaker #2: I have been discussing my longer-term plans with the board for some time now. A few months ago, I informed them that I felt '27 would be the right time to transition out of the CEO role.

Speaker #2: After almost four years as CEO, and having led SMG through an important period of transformation and its successful IPO, I believe it is the right time to hand over the operational leadership of the company.

Christoph Tonini: After almost four years as CEO and having led SMG through an important period of transformation and its successful IPO, I believe it is the right time to hand over the operational leadership of the company. Following a structured succession process, the board announced this morning the appointment of Alberto Sanz de Lama as next CEO of SMG, effective 1 January 2027. This enables a structured handover as well as a continuity in both strategy and execution. Alberto has been a key member of our executive leadership team since 2023 and has played an important role in shaping our strategy and the key decisions we have taken as a group. He has over 20 years of digital marketplace experience and is an experienced leader.

Speaker #2: Following a structured succession process, the Board announced this morning the appointment of Alberto Sanz de Lama as the next CEO of SMG, effective January 1, 2027.

Speaker #2: This enables a structured handover as well as continuity in both strategy and execution. Alberto has been a key member of our executive leadership team since '23 and has played an important role in shaping our strategy and the key decisions we have taken as a group.

Speaker #2: He has over 20 years of digital marketplace experience and is an experienced leader. More importantly, he knows our business, our markets, our people, and our strategic priorities extremely well, making him well-placed to preserve strategic continuity and execute SMG's established strategy.

Christoph Tonini: More importantly, he knows our business, our markets, our people, and our strategic priority extremely well, making him well-placed to preserve strategic continuity and execute SMG's established strategies. We also announced this morning that Jörn Nikolay has decided not to seek re-election at the next AGM. He will step down as chairman immediately but remain a member of the board until the next AGM. Jörn has been part of SMG's journey since the merger in 2021, and I would like to thank him for his contribution to the company's development over the last years, in particular for guiding the organization through the IPO. As I transition out of the operational leadership of SMG, the board has proposed that I succeed Jörn as a chairman, subject to shareholder approval at the AGM in April 2027.

Speaker #2: We also announced this morning that Jörn Nicolai has decided not to seek re-election at the next AGM. He will step down as Chairman immediately, but remain a member of the Board until the next AGM.

Speaker #2: Jörn has been part of SMG's journey since the merger in '21, and I would like to thank him for his contribution to the company's development over the last years, and particularly for guiding the organization through the IPO.

Speaker #2: As I transition out of the operational leadership of SMG, the board has proposed that I succeed Jörn as chairman, subject to shareholder approval at the AGM in April 2027.

Speaker #2: I'm very pleased to continue contributing to SMG in this new role and to support the company's next phase of growth. Until then, Pietro Suppino, currently Vice Chairman of the Board, will assume the chairmanship on an interim basis.

Christoph Tonini: I am very pleased to continue contributing to SMG in this new role and to support the company's next phase of growth. Until then, Pietro Supino, currently Vice-Chairman of the Board, will assume the chairmanship on an interim basis. I have great confidence in Alberto and in the strength of our leadership team. Over the coming months, we will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition ahead of his appointment as CEO on 1 January. In the meantime, Alberto will remain fully focused on leading the Automotives division until the transition, while we work on an ordinary succession to ensure continuity for the automotive business. You will hear from him in his new capacity in the new year. As ever, we look forward to continuing our close engagement with the capital markets throughout. I am now moving to page 5, which provides an executive summary of our H1 performance.

Speaker #2: I have great confidence in Alberto and in the strength of our leadership team. Over the coming months, we will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition ahead of his appointment as CEO on January 1.

Speaker #2: In the meantime, Alberto will remain fully focused on leading the automotive division until the transition, while we work on an orderly succession to ensure continuity for the automotive business.

Christoph Tonini: In the meantime, Alberto will remain fully focused on leading the Automotives division until the transition, while we work on an ordinary succession to ensure continuity for the automotive business. You will hear from him in his new capacity in the new year. As ever, we look forward to continuing our close engagement with the capital markets throughout. I am now moving to page 5, which provides an executive summary of our H1 performance.

Speaker #2: You will hear from him in his new capacity in the new year. As ever, we look forward to continuing our close engagement with the capital markets throughout.

Speaker #2: I'm now moving to page 5, which provides an executive summary of our first-half performance. Sustainable double-digit growth and expanding margins through operating leverage are the cornerstones of our equity story.

Christoph Tonini: Sustainable double-digit growth and expanding margins through operating leverage are the cornerstones of our equity story. H1 provides further evidence that our strategy is delivering on both fronts. Group revenue grew 11.3% to CHF 179.8 million, while growth was broad-based with double-digit growth across all core verticals. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 15.8% to CHF 101.5 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 2.2 percentage points to 56.5%, and cost ratios declined along the expectations we set out at IPO. In real estate, we delivered the first net agent growth in 3 years while maintaining strong double-digit ARPA growth in the core packages. On the AI front, we are successfully scaling several initiatives while the ongoing rollout is being funded within our current CapEx envelope. Overall, we are growing, expanding margins, broadening the real estate customer base, deploying AI pragmatically, and increasing visibility for the full year.

Christoph Tonini: Sustainable double-digit growth and expanding margins through operating leverage are the cornerstones of our equity story. H1 provides further evidence that our strategy is delivering on both fronts. Group revenue grew 11.3% to CHF 179.8 million, while growth was broad-based with double-digit growth across all core verticals. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 15.8% to CHF 101.5 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 2.2 percentage points to 56.5%, and cost ratios declined along the expectations we set out at IPO. In real estate, we delivered the first net agent growth in three years while maintaining strong double-digit ARPA growth in the core packages. On the AI front, we are successfully scaling several initiatives while the ongoing rollout is being funded within our current CapEx envelope. Overall, we are growing, expanding margins, broadening the real estate customer base, deploying AI pragmatically, and increasing visibility for the full year.

Speaker #2: H1 provides further evidence that our strategy is delivering on both fronts. Group revenue grew 11.3% to $179.8 million, while growth was broad-based with double-digit growth across all core verticals.

Speaker #2: Adjusted EBITDA increased by 15.8% to $101.5 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 2.2 percentage points to 56.5%, and cost ratios declined along the expectations we set out at IPO.

Speaker #2: In real estate, we delivered the first net agent growth in three years while maintaining strong double-digit ARPA growth in the core packages. On the AI front, we are successfully scaling several initiatives, while the ongoing rollout is being funded within our current capex envelope.

Speaker #2: Overall, we are growing, expanding margins, broadening the real estate customer base, deploying AI pragmatically, and increasing visibility for the full year. This combination gives us confidence in both our full-year 2026 outlook and our medium-term value creation path.

Christoph Tonini: This combination gives us confidence in both our full year 2026 outlook and our medium-term value creation path. As a result, we are narrowing our full year 2026 revenue guidance from 10% to 12% to 11% to 12%. We confirm our adjusted EBITDA margin at 56% to 58% and improve and narrow the CapEx guidance at 7.5% to 8.5% of revenue. On the next slide, I would like to highlight a few operational achievements from the H1. Starting with real estate, we successfully relaunched our package portfolio in H1. The new offering has been well-received by customers, is already translating into stronger upselling, and has contributed to strong ARPA growth in the core packages. On top of that, we delivered on a strategic priority that we had clearly set out at the time of the IPO. We report first year-on-year net agent growth in 3 years.

Speaker #2: As a result, we are narrowing our full year 26 revenue guidance from 10 to 12% to 11 to 12%. We confirm our adjusted EBITDA margin at 56 to 58% and improve and narrow the capex guidance at 7.5 to 8% 8.5% of revenue.

Speaker #2: On the next slide, I'd like to highlight a few operational achievements from the first half. Starting with real estate, we successfully relaunched our package portfolio in H1.

Speaker #2: The new offering has been well received by customers, is already translating into stronger upselling, and has contributed to strong ARPA growth in the core packages.

Speaker #2: On top of that, we delivered on a strategic priority that we had clearly set out at the time of the IPO: we report first year-on-year net agent growth in three years.

Speaker #2: This is the result of successful winbacks of small customers, customer retention, as well as the strong adoption of our recently introduced Flex package. We have underserved our smallest clients previously, and with the Flex offer, we are bringing them back and retaining them in our ecosystem.

Christoph Tonini: This is the result of successful win backs of small customers, customer retention, as well as the strong adoption of our recently introduced Flex package. We have underserved smallest clients previously, and with the Flex offer, we are bringing them back and retaining them in our ecosystem. Another standout was our Seeker subscription business, which delivered 119% year-on-year growth in Seeker subscribers. This demonstrates clear willingness to pay for premium access to listing in the supply and constraint rental market and our capability to monetize the Seeker size of our real estate marketplace. Turning to automotive. Product innovation and product-led value capture remained key priorities. During the H1, we launched a range of product enhancements, including AI-driven features and a unified, integrated private seller journey that allows private sellers to seamlessly switch between classifieds and auction forums.

Speaker #2: Another standout was our Seeker subscription business, which delivered 190% year-on-year growth in Seeker subscribers. This demonstrates clearly a clear willingness to pay for premium access to listings in the supply-constrained rental market, and our capability to monetize the Seeker side of our real estate marketplace.

Speaker #2: Turning to automotive, product innovation and product-led value capture remained key priorities. During the first half, we launched a range of product enhancements, including AI-driven features and a unified, integrated private seller journey that allows private sellers to seamlessly switch between classifieds and auction formats.

Speaker #2: We also continued to convert product value into revenue, delivering another period of strong RPD growth, supported by increasing adoption of premium packages. Finally, Ricardo maintained its strong operational momentum.

Christoph Tonini: We also continued to convert product value into revenue, delivering another period of strong RPD growth, supported by an increasing adoption of premium packages. Finally, Ricardo maintained its strong operational momentum. Continued product improvements, high user engagement, and healthy marketplace dynamics translated into another period of strong GMV growth and an exceptional year-on-year performance. Overall, these achievements demonstrate the consistency of our execution and make us confident going into the H2 of the year. I am turning to page 7 now. Across our marketplaces, SMG remains the clear market leader with a strong traffic advantage, supported by the brands deeply embedded in the daily lives of Swiss consumers. Importantly, this position has not changed. Contrary to the disruption narrative, we see no evidence that AI is taking our traffic.

Speaker #2: Continued product improvements, high user engagement, and healthy marketplace dynamics translated into another period of strong GMV growth and an exceptional year-on-year performance. Overall, these achievements demonstrate the consistency of our execution and make us confident going into the second half of the year.

Speaker #2: I'm turning to page 7 now. Across our marketplaces, SMG remains the clear market leader with a strong traffic advantage, supported by the brand's deep embedding in the daily lives of Swiss consumers.

Speaker #2: Importantly, this position has not changed. Contrary to the disruption narrative, we see no evidence that AI is taking our traffic. LLM-driven traffic remains below 1% across our core verticals and is broadly stable, even as adoption of AI tools continues to rise among Swiss consumers.

Christoph Tonini: LLM's driven traffic remains below 1% across our core verticals and broadly stable, even as adoption of AI tools continue to rise amongst Swiss consumers. We also continue to benefit from attractive underlying market dynamics. Switzerland remains a stable and resilient market, with monetization levels in real estate and automotive being below our European marketplace peers. This gives us confidence that we still have significant headroom to grow on the long term through continued product innovation and enhanced customer value. I am flipping to page 8 now. AI becomes powerful when it has access to trusted inventory, rich marketplace data, and strong customer relationships. These are exactly the assets that SMG has built over many years across real estate, automotive, and General Marketplaces. Across the group, our strategic logic is to scale AI initiatives that improve discovery, workflows, and marketplace intelligence, and further strengthen our competitive mode.

Christoph Tonini: LLMs-driven traffic remains below 1% across our core verticals and broadly stable, even as adoption of AI tools continue to rise amongst Swiss consumers. We also continue to benefit from attractive underlying market dynamics. Switzerland remains a stable and resilient market, with monetization levels in real estate and automotive being below our European marketplace peers. This gives us confidence that we still have significant headroom to grow on the long term through continued product innovation and enhanced customer value. I am flipping to page 8 now. AI becomes powerful when it has access to trusted inventory, rich marketplace data, and strong customer relationships. These are exactly the assets that SMG has built over many years across real estate, automotive, and General Marketplaces. Across the group, our strategic logic is to scale AI initiatives that improve discovery, workflows, and marketplace intelligence, and further strengthen our competitive mode.

Speaker #2: We also continue to benefit from attractive underlying market dynamics. Switzerland remains a stable and resilient market, with monetization levels in real estate and automotive being below those of our European marketplace peers.

Speaker #2: This gives us confidence that we still have significant headroom to grow in the long-term through continued product innovation and enhanced customer value. I'm flipping to page 8 now.

Speaker #2: AI becomes powerful when it has access to trusted inventory, rich marketplace data, and strong customer relationships. These are exactly the assets that SMG has built over many years across real estate, automotive, and general marketplaces.

Speaker #2: Across the group, our strategic logic is to scale AI initiatives that improve discovery, workflows, and marketplace intelligence, and further strengthen our competitive moat. On the demand side, with AI, we enable users to do better search, receive better recommendations, and get more support in making decisions.

Christoph Tonini: On the demand side, with AI, we enable users to do better search, receive better recommendations, and get more support in making decisions. This makes our demand mode even stronger by deepening engagement, relevance, and direct usage of our platforms. On the supply side, we are making listings simpler and more efficient while increasingly integrating into our customers' daily workflows. AI allows us to automate time-consuming tasks and provide agents, dealers, and sellers with smarter tools to run their business. On the data side, we are building on our unique marketplace data and propriety intelligence to enable better recommendations, better matchmaking, and to enable our customers to make better day-to-day decisions. Across our platforms, we will see even more real-time context and intent signals in the future. We will see even better pricing and valuation data, and we will see that trust and safety signals will matter even more.

Speaker #2: This makes our demand mode even stronger by deepening engagement, relevance, and direct usage of our platforms. On the supply side, we are making listing simpler and more efficient, while increasingly integrating into our customers' daily workflows.

Speaker #2: AI allows us to automate time-consuming tasks and provide agents, dealers, and sellers with smarter tools to run their business. On the data side, we are building on our unique marketplace data and proprietary intelligence to enable better recommendations, better matchmaking, and to help our customers make better day-to-day decisions.

Christoph Tonini: On the data side, we are building on our unique marketplace data and propriety intelligence to enable better recommendations, better matchmaking, and to enable our customers to make better day-to-day decisions. Across our platforms, we will see even more real-time context and intent signals in the future. We will see even better pricing and valuation data, and we will see that trust and safety signals will matter even more.

Speaker #2: Across our platforms, we will see even more real-time context and intense signals in the future. We will see even better pricing and valuation data, and we will see that trust and safety signals will matter even more.

Speaker #2: To sum it up, AI is strengthening our competitive moats. On top of that, our replatforming and cloud migration were fully completed last year, providing a great technological foundation that allows us to scale AI initiatives without fundamental investments.

Christoph Tonini: To sum it up, AI is strengthening our competitive modes. On top of that, our re-platforming and cloud migration were fully completed last year, providing a great technological foundation that allows us to scale AI initiatives without fundamental investments. Let me now turn to the next slide, which showcases concrete AI-powered products and features that we have launched over these last few months or roll out as we speak, and that directly support the strategic outline earlier. Conversational search is now live across all our core platforms. Going forward, it will increasingly help users find what they are looking for in a more natural way. Other AI-powered tools such as de-cluttering and virtual staging in real estate make listings more engaging and more comparable. I mentioned earlier that we expect AI to make workflows more efficient and to integrate us even deeper into the processes of our professional customers.

Speaker #2: Let me now turn to the next slide, which showcases concrete AI-powered products and features that we have launched over the last few months, or are rolling out as we speak, that directly support the strategy outlined earlier.

Speaker #2: Conversational search is now live across all our core platforms. Going forward, it will increasingly help users find what they are looking for in a more natural way.

Christoph Tonini: Conversational search is now live across all our core platforms. Going forward, it will increasingly help users find what they are looking for in a more natural way. Other AI-powered tools such as de-cluttering and virtual staging in real estate make listings more engaging and more comparable. I mentioned earlier that we expect AI to make workflows more efficient and to integrate us even deeper into the processes of our professional customers.

Speaker #2: Other AI-powered tools, such as decluttering and virtual staging in real estate, make listings more engaging and more comparable. I mentioned earlier that we expect AI to make workflows more efficient and to integrate us even deeper into the processes of our professional customers.

Speaker #2: A few examples here: automated background removal and virtual staging help automotive dealers create higher quality listings in less time. In GM, we launched AI-supported bulk listings, making it very easy to list multiple items on Ricardo, while AI is writing descriptions and providing pricing suggestions.

Christoph Tonini: A few examples here. Automated background removal and virtual staging helps automotive dealers create higher quality listings in less time. In General Marketplaces, we launched AI-supported bulk listings, making it very easy to list multiple items on Ricardo while AI is writing descriptions and providing pricing suggestions. In real estate, we are currently testing and rolling out AI replies on Flatfox, reducing manual work while improving responsiveness. Just to give you an idea of the scale, in H1 2026, Flatfox advertisers manually generated approximately 240,000 messages per month on average. These are practical examples of how we use AI to increase customer productivity and improve the return on investment they achieve through our products and marketplaces. Finally, we are increasingly turning our propriety data into propriety intelligence.

Speaker #2: In real estate, we are currently testing and rolling out AI replies on Flatfox, reducing manual work while improving responsiveness. Just to give you an idea of the scale, in the first half of 2026, Flatfox advertisers manually generated approximately 240,000 messages per month, on average.

Speaker #2: These are practical examples of how we use AI to increase customer productivity and improve the return on investment they achieve through our products and marketplaces.

Speaker #2: Finally, we are increasingly turning our proprietary data into proprietary intelligence. In automotive, our new optimized approach provides expected time-to-market insights, helping dealers manage their car inventory, while a new recommendation engine improves conversions.

Christoph Tonini: In automotive, our new Optimizer Pro provides expected time-to-market insights, helping dealers manage their car inventory, while a new recommendation engine improved conversions. In real estate, we now predict B2B package performance to promote upselling. In General Marketplaces, LLM-supported tagging has improved discoverability, leading to better search results and higher conversion rates. In addition, we continue to invest in AI-driven fraud detection, helping us to increase trust while reducing off-platform transactions. I want to emphasize that this slide represents only the AI component of our innovation roadmap. AI is an important lever, but it is only one of several levers we are pulling. Let me use AutoScout24 as an example. Given our recently introduced product updates, dealers can now integrate PDF documents directly into their listing, such as service histories or inspection reports, giving prospective buyers more transparency and greater confidence in their purchase decision.

Speaker #2: In real estate, we now predict B2B package performance to promote upselling. In general marketplaces, LLM-supported tagging has improved discoverability, leading to better search results and higher conversion rates.

Speaker #2: In addition, we continue to invest in AI-driven fraud detection, helping us increase trust while reducing off-platform transactions. I want to emphasize that this slide represents only the AI component of our innovation roadmap.

Speaker #2: AI is an important lever, but it is only one of several levers we are pulling. Let me use AutoScout24 as an example. Given our recently introduced product updates, dealers can now integrate PDF documents directly into their listings, such as service histories or inspection reports, giving prospective buyers more transparency and greater confidence in their purchase decision.

Speaker #2: We have also introduced video integration, enabling dealers to present vehicles in a more engaging and realistic way. These are exactly the types of product enhancements buyers expect and dealers want to offer.

Christoph Tonini: We have also introduced video integration, enabling dealers to present vehicles in a more engaging and realistic way. These are exactly the type of product enhancements buyers expect and dealers want to offer, and they create value without relying on AI. The broader point I want to make is that as a relatively young company, SMG still sees substantial untapped potential to improve products, customer workflows, and monetization across our marketplaces. AI helps on this journey, but it is only one part of a much broader product-led growth agenda. With that, I hand over to Boris, who will take you through our financial performance in more detail. Please, Boris.

Speaker #2: And they create value without relying on AI. The broader point I want to make is that, as a relatively young company, SMG still sees substantial untapped potential to improve products, customer workflows, and monetization across our marketplaces.

Speaker #2: AI helps on this journey, but it is only one part of a much broader product-led growth agenda. With that, I hand over to Boris, who will take you through our financial performance in more detail.

Speaker #2: Please, Boris.

Speaker #1: Thank you, Christoph, and welcome everyone on the call, also from my side. Let me start with our group financial performance on slide 10. Group revenue increased to $179.8 million, representing year-on-year growth of 11.3%.

Boris Gussen: Thank you, Christoph, and welcome everyone on the call also from my side. Let me start with our group financial performance on slide 10. Group revenue increased to CHF 179.8 million, representing year-on-year growth of 11.3%. This strong performance was broad-based with double-digit growth across all our core segments. When comparing this with the 14.4% growth reported in H1 2025, it is important to remember that the prior period benefited from a 2.3 percentage point contribution from M&A and Ricardo shipping label revenues. On the like-for-like basis, H1 2025 revenue growth was 12.1%, highlighting the consistency of our underlying growth trajectory. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 15.8% year-on-year to CHF 101.5 million. As a result of operating leverage, our adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 2.2 percentage points to 56.5%, corresponding to a strong drop-through rate of 75.8%.

Speaker #1: This strong performance was driven by double-digit growth across all our core segments. When comparing this with the 14.4% growth reported in the first half of '25, it is important to remember that the prior period benefited from a 2.3 percentage point contribution from M&A and Ricardo's shipping label revenues.

Speaker #1: On a like-for-like basis, H1 25 revenue growth was 12.1%, highlighting the consistency of our underlying growth trajectory. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 15.8% year-on-year to $101.5 million.

Speaker #1: As a result of operating leverage, our adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 2.2 percentage points to 56.5%, corresponding to a strong drop-through rate of 75.8%. This reported margin absorbed several dilutive effects, including the growing contribution from Ricardo's shipping labels and C2B in Automotive, as well as the annualization of incremental costs associated with being a listed company.

Boris Gussen: This reported margin absorbed several dilutive effects, including the growing contribution from Ricardo shipping label and autoricardo.ch Automotive, as well as the annualization of incremental costs associated with being a listed company. Moving to the right side of the slide, EPS doubled year-on-year from 29 Rappen to 57 Rappen. As you might recall, last year's result included elevated IPO-related costs, including related share-based compensation. These costs are now at typical levels and, combined with our strong operational performance, translated into significant EPS growth. Finally, we continue to operate from a position of financial strength. Our leverage ratio stood at 0.7 times adjusted EBITDA, providing us with a strong balance sheet and a continued financial flexibility. Let us now take a deep dive into the core business units, starting with real estate on slide 11.

Speaker #1: Moving to the right side of the slide, EPS doubled year-on-year from $29 to $57. As you might recall, last year's result included elevated IPO-related costs, including related share-based compensation.

Speaker #1: These costs are now at typical levels and, combined with our strong operational performance, have translated into significant EPS growth. Finally, we continue to operate from a position of financial strength.

Speaker #1: Our leverage ratio stood at 0.7 times adjusted EBITDA, providing us with a strong balance sheet and continued financial flexibility. Let us now take a deep dive into the core business units, starting with Real Estate on slide 11.

Speaker #1: Real Estate delivered a very good half year, demonstrating both the resilience of our market position and the continued strength of our monetization strategy. Revenues grew 11.5% to $88.5 million.

Boris Gussen: Real estate delivered a very good H1, demonstrating both the resilience of our market position and the continued strength of our monetization strategy. Revenues grew 11.5% to CHF 88.5 million. The underlying real estate market in Switzerland remains characterized by strong demand and limited supply. Following that, we observed a continuous increase in property prices and single-digit decline in active inventory. The attractiveness of our platforms remained unchanged, with both traffic and lead generation growing year-on-year. This underscores the strength of our market position and the value we continue to create for both property seekers and professional customers. Our professional classifieds revenue increased by 9.7%, driven by the relaunch of our core package portfolio, which both supported pricing adjustments and an increased adoption of our premium offerings. We also achieved an important strategic milestone we set out at our IPO, a year-on-year net increase in agent numbers to 4,027 customers.

Speaker #1: The underlying real estate market in Switzerland remains correctly priced by strong demand and limited supply. Following that, we observed a continuous increase in property prices and a single-digit decline in active inventory.

Speaker #1: The attractiveness of our platforms remained unchanged, with both traffic and lead generation growing year-on-year. This underscores the strength of our market position and the value we continue to create for both property seekers and professional customers.

Boris Gussen: This underscores the strength of our market position and the value we continue to create for both property seekers and professional customers. Our professional classifieds revenue increased by 9.7%, driven by the relaunch of our core package portfolio, which both supported pricing adjustments and an increased adoption of our premium offerings. We also achieved an important strategic milestone we set out at our IPO, a year-on-year net increase in agent numbers to 4,027 customers.

Speaker #1: Our professional-classified revenue increased by 9.7%, driven by the relaunch of our core package portfolio, which supported pricing adjustments and increased adoption of our premium offerings.

Speaker #1: We also achieved an important strategic milestone we set out at IPO: a year-on-year net increase in agent numbers to 4,027 customers. The key driver here was the strong adoption of our Stock Flex package.

Boris Gussen: The key driver here was the strong adoption of our Flex package. As a reminder, Flex is a hybrid subscription package, and we designed it as a deliberate entry product for smaller agencies that were previously underserved, had churned, or might have left the platform. We piloted the product last year, rolled it out fully this year with more than 300 customers by the end of June. Those Flex customers have an ARPA below CHF 300, which is significantly lower compared to our core package. This targeted addition of smaller customers and a significantly lower ARPA creates a natural mix effect. Including the Flex mix effect, reported ARPA grew 5.4%. However, the underlying core monetization engine remains firmly intact, and ARPA growth in the core packages, excluding the Flex offer, was 13.7%.

Speaker #1: As a reminder, flex is a hybrid subscription package and we designed it as we deliberate and treat as a deliberate entry product for smaller agencies that were previously underserved had churned or might have left the platform.

Speaker #1: We piloted the product last year and rolled it out fully this year, with more than 300 customers by the end of June. Those Flex customers have an RPAP below 300 francs, which is significantly lower compared to our core package.

Speaker #1: This targeted addition of smaller customers and a significantly lower RPAP creates a natural mix effect. Including the flex mix effect, reported RPAP grew 5.4%.

Speaker #1: However, the underlying core monetization engine remains firmly intact, and RPAP growth in the core packages, excluding the flex offer, was 13.7%. We expect to see this mix effect in H2 as well.

Boris Gussen: We expect to see this mix effect in H2 as well as we continue to acquire and win back smaller customers, but gradually normalize into 2027. On the private customer side, momentum remained particularly strong. Other classifieds revenue increased by 19.1%, supported by the continued scaling of our Seeker subscription business. Subscription volumes increased by approximately 190% year-on-year, providing strong evidence of the attractiveness of our offering and Seekers' willingness to pay premium access to the newest listings. In addition, services and other operating revenue continued to grow, supported by the strong performance of our Flatfox SaaS business. Finally, profitability also continued to improve. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 3.2 percentage points to 69.9%, reflecting the operating leverage inherent in our marketplace model and our continued focus on cost management. Next is automotive on page 12.

Speaker #1: As we continue to acquire and win back smaller customers, we are gradually normalizing into Q2 '27. On the private customer side, momentum remained particularly strong. Other classifieds revenue increased by 19.1%, supported by the continued scaling of our seeker subscription business.

Speaker #1: Subscription volumes increased by approximately 190% year-on-year, providing strong evidence of the attractiveness of our offering and seekers' willingness to pay for premium access to the news listings.

Speaker #1: In addition, services and other operating revenue continue to grow, supported by the strong performance of our Flatfox SaaS business. Finally, profitability also continued to improve—adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 3.2 percentage points to 69.9%, reflecting the operating leverage inherent in our marketplace model and our continued focus on cost management.

Speaker #1: Next, automotive on page 12. Our Automotive segment delivered another strong first half, with revenue increasing by 12.2%, demonstrating the resilience of our marketplace despite a softer automotive market.

Boris Gussen: Our automotive segment delivered another strong H1, with revenue increasing by 12.2%, demonstrating the resilience of our marketplace despite a softer automotive market. Overall, the Swiss automotive market stayed soft. We see weaker demand with traffic declining year-over-year, affecting new car registrations and used car sales, while inventory from professionals and leads delivered by our platform stayed broadly stable compared to previous year. Professional classifieds revenue grew by 14.4%, driven by continued growth of average revenue per dealer, growing 13.8% year-over-year. Our dealer base increased slightly, while we are also seeing continued adoption of premium packages. Slightly more than 35% of our dealer customers are now on one of the 3 tier packages, professional plus, and premium, while the rest are with the basic package. 2 years ago, the percentage was roughly at 28%.

Speaker #1: Overall, the Swiss automotive market stayed soft. We see weaker demand, with traffic declining year over year, stagnating new car registrations and used car sales, while inventory from professionals and leads delivered by our platform stayed broadly stable compared to the previous year.

Speaker #1: Professional classifieds revenue grew by 14.4%, driven by continued growth of average revenue per dealer, which increased 13.8% year over year. Our number of dealers increased slightly, and we are also seeing continued adoption of premium packages.

Speaker #1: Slightly more than 35% of our dealer customers are now on one of the three-tier packages: Professional, Professional Plus, and Premium, while the rest are with the Basic package.

Speaker #1: Two years ago, the percentage was roughly at 28%. On the one hand, this demonstrates that we're driving the adoption of premium packages, but it also crystallizes more potential for growth and monetization.

Boris Gussen: On the one hand, this demonstrates that we are driving the adoption of premium packages, but it also crystallizes more potential for growth and monetization. Other classifieds revenue representing our private or pay-per-ads revenue declined 1.4% year-over-year, reflecting softer listing volumes, largely offset by targeted product and pricing initiatives, including the introduction of value-based pricing tiers. Another important strategic priority is the continued expansion of our C2B business, AutoScout24 Direct. The number of cars transacted increased by 48.7%, while CHF 0.8 million revenue growth year-by-year helps us offset the impact of low private listing volumes. As C2B carries a lower margin than our traditional classifieds business, its growing contribution has a modest dilutive effect on the segment margin. However, it creates an additional revenue stream as the market evolves, and also shows how we adapt to the needs of private sellers for more convenience and a faster selling process.

Speaker #1: Other classifieds revenue, representing our private or paper ads revenue, declined 1.4% year over year, reflecting softer listing volumes, largely offset by targeted product and pricing initiatives, including the introduction of value-based pricing tiers.

Speaker #1: Another important strategic priority is the continued expansion of our C2B business, AutoScout Direct. The number of cars transacted increased by 48.7%, while €9.8 million revenue growth year over year helps us offset the impact of low private listing volumes.

Boris Gussen: The number of cars transacted increased by 48.7%, while CHF 0.8 million revenue growth year-by-year helps us offset the impact of low private listing volumes. As C2B carries a lower margin than our traditional classifieds business, its growing contribution has a modest dilutive effect on the segment margin. However, it creates an additional revenue stream as the market evolves, and also shows how we adapt to the needs of private sellers for more convenience and a faster selling process.

Speaker #1: As C2B carries a lower margin than our traditional classifieds business, its growing contribution has a modest dilutive effect on the segment margin. However, it creates an additional revenue stream as the market evolves and also shows how we adapt to the needs of private sellers for more convenience and a faster selling process.

Speaker #1: Profitability also continued to improve; adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 9.9 percentage points to 68.4%. Moving on to page 13, General Marketplace delivered a strong first half, with revenue increasing by 13% year-on-year.

Boris Gussen: Profitability also continued to improve. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 0.9 percentage points to 68.4%. Moving on to page 13. General Marketplaces delivered a strong H1, with revenue increasing by 13% year-on-year. This was supported by continued GMV growth of 13.1%, reaching CHF 309.1 million. The biggest growth contribution was from transactional revenue or Ricardo, which increased by 11.9%. What is particularly encouraging is the momentum was broad-based across the marketplace, with growth in visiting accounts up to 8%, unique buyers and sellers both up 11%, and posted articles up 4%, reflecting healthy marketplace dynamics across both demand and supply. Growth also benefited from favorable market dynamics in selected categories such as coins and collectibles. In addition, efficient marketing execution continued to support buyer and seller activity. We expect H2 growth to normalize against stronger prior year comparator, and for the underlying marketplace momentum to remain healthy.

Speaker #1: This was supported by continued GMV growth of 13.1%, reaching 309.1 million. The biggest growth contribution was from transactional revenue, or Ricardo, which increased by 11.9%.

Speaker #1: What is particularly encouraging is the momentum was the broad big was broad base across the marketplace with growth and visiting accounts up to 8%, unique buyers and sellers both up 11% and posted articles up 4% reflecting healthy marketplace dynamics across both demand and supply.

Speaker #1: Growth also benefited from favorable market dynamics and selected categories, such as coins and collectibles. In addition, efficient marketing execution continued to support buyer and seller activity.

Boris Gussen: Growth also benefited from favorable market dynamics in selected categories such as coins and collectibles. In addition, efficient marketing execution continued to support buyer and seller activity. We expect H2 growth to normalize against stronger prior year comparator, and for the underlying marketplace momentum to remain healthy.

Speaker #1: We expect second-half growth to normalize against a stronger prior year comparator, and for the underlying marketplace momentum to remain healthy. We also made good progress with the rollout of Ricardo Plus, our new offer for sellers.

Boris Gussen: We also made good progress with the rollout of Ricardo Plus, our new offer for sellers. More than 65% of eligible users have now been onboarded, and the program is supporting volume expansion and deeper customer engagement. At the same time, targeted seller discounts helped drive additional activity. These volume-driving measures, together with a higher share of above-cap orders, had a modest impact on the take rate, which declined by 0.1 percentage points year-on-year to 9.1%. We view this as a balanced trade-off as the initiative supports GMV growth and long-term marketplace health. The classifieds part of the business also continued to evolve, with revenue increasing by 17.2%. Growth was supported by targeted monetization initiatives, including the introduction of listing fees for cars, as well as the integration of shipping possibilities, which improved convenience for users.

Speaker #1: More than 65% of eligible users have now been onboarded, and the program is supporting volume expansion and deeper customer engagement. At the same time, targeted seller discounts helped drive additional activity.

Speaker #1: These volume-driving measures, together with a higher share of above-cap orders, had a modest impact on the take rate, which declined by 9.1 percentage points year on year to 9.1%.

Speaker #1: We view this as a balanced trade-off, as the initiatives support GMV growth and long-term marketplace health. The classifieds part of the business also continues to evolve, with revenue increasing by 17.2%.

Speaker #1: Growth was supported by targeted monetization initiatives, including the introduction of listing fees for cars, as well as the integration of shipping possibilities, which improved convenience for users.

Speaker #1: Finally, adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 2.5 percentage points to 48.8%, reflecting disciplined cost control while still allowing us to invest in marketing and product development to support long-term GMV growth.

Boris Gussen: Finally, adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 2.5 percentage points to 48.8%, reflecting disciplined cost control, while still allowing us to invest in marketing and product development to support long-term GMV growth. We continue on page 14 and moving now to the cost base. As seen referred across the individual segment reviews, we saw profitability improving, supported by revenue growth and the operating leverage inherent in our marketplace model. This slide brings the dynamic together at group level. Looking at the adjusted total operating expenses, the absolute cost base increased only modestly from CHF 88.2 million to CHF 91.4 million. This reflects continued investment in the competitive positioning of our platforms alongside variable expense components, such as cost of services that naturally scale with revenue. As revenue grew significantly faster than costs, adjusted total operating expenses as a percentage of revenue declined from 54.6% to 50.9%.

Speaker #1: We continue on page 14 and are now moving to the cost base. I see I have further crossed the individual segment reviews. We saw profitability improving, importantly supported by revenue growth and the operating leverage inherent in our marketplace model.

Speaker #1: This slide brings the dynamic together at the group level. Looking at the adjusted total operating expenses, the absolute cost base increased only modestly from CHF 88.2 million to CHF 91.4 million.

Speaker #1: This reflects continued investment in the competitive positioning of our platforms, alongside variable expense components such as cost of services that naturally scale with revenue.

Speaker #1: As revenue grew significantly faster than costs, adjusted total operating expenses as a percentage of revenue declined from 54.6% to 50.9%. The same pattern is visible in personnel expenses.

Boris Gussen: The same pattern is visible in personnel expenses. Adjusted personnel expenses increased only marginally from CHF 56.5 million to CHF 57 million, while the ratio to revenue declined from 35% to 31.7%. Apart from operating leverage, this also results from the continued increase of our nearshore and offshore ratio being 39.4% as of 26 June. The key takeaway is that we are able to support continued growth without a proportional increase of headcount or personnel costs. On CapEx, we also saw a very healthy development. CapEx decreased from CHF 16.4 million to CHF 14 million as a percentage of revenue declined from 10.2% to 7.8%. This underlines our ability to drive meaningful product innovation and adoption with current talent and resources and within the current CapEx envelope. Turning to guidance, page 15.

Speaker #1: Adjusted personnel expenses increased only marginally from €56.5 million to €57 million, while the ratio to revenue declined from 35% to 31.7%. Apart from operating leverage, this also results from the continued increase in our near-shore and offshore ratio, which was 39.4% as of June 2026.

Speaker #1: The key takeaway is that we're able to support continued growth without a proportional increase in headcount or personnel costs. On CapEx, we also saw a very healthy development.

Speaker #1: Capex decreased from CHF 16.4 million to CHF 14 million, as a percentage of revenue declining from 10.2% to 7.8%. This underlines our ability to drive meaningful product innovation and adoption with current talent and resources, and within the current Capex envelope.

Speaker #1: Turning to guidance on page 15. As a result of our strong first half performance and the good visibility we currently have for the remainder of the year, we're narrowing our full-year revenue guidance to 11% to 12% growth.

Boris Gussen: As a result of our strong H1 performance and the good visibility we currently have for the remainder of the year, we are narrowing our full year revenue guidance to 11% to 12% growth, which is the upper end of the previously communicated range. One important point of context is that our H1 performance was driven by several factors we have already highlighted, particularly Ricardo's strong performance. While we expect the H2 to be solid, we do not expect this to be a huge step change beyond what was delivered in H1. For Ricardo specifically, we expect the market-based momentum to continue throughout H2, but with growth rates normalizing against a stronger prior year comparison and higher baselines. On margins, we are confirming our adjusted EBIT guidance at 56% to 58%.

Speaker #1: Which is the upper end of the previously communicated range. One important point of context is that our first-half performance was driven by several factors we have already highlighted, particularly Ricardo's strong performance.

Speaker #1: While we expect the second half to be solid, we do not expect this to be a huge sub change beyond what was delivered in H1.

Speaker #1: For Ricardo specifically, we expect the marketplace momentum to continue throughout H2, but with growth rates normalizing against the stronger prior-year comparison and higher baselines.

Speaker #1: On margins, we're confirming our adjusted EBITDA guidance at 56 to 58%. The current range captures continuous operating leverage while enabling investment in growth, increased marketing spend in H2, and certain one-time expenses, such as increased consulting and education expenses.

Boris Gussen: The current range captures continuous operating leverage while enabling investment in growth, increased marketing spend in H2, and certain one-time expenses, such as increased consulting and education expenses. We are also improving and narrowing our CapEx guidance as we expect CapEx to land between 7.5% and 8.5% of revenue. Finally, our midterm outlook remains unchanged. Our H1 performance puts us firmly on track and strengthens our confidence in delivering against those commitments over time. To wrap it up, strong H1, good visibility for the rest of the year, allowing us to narrow our full year 2026 revenue growth guidance and continued confidence in our midterm outlook. With that, I hand over to Christoph for some final words.

Speaker #1: We're also improving and narrowing our Capex guidance, as we expect Capex to land between 7.5% and 8.5% of revenue. Finally, our midterm outlook remains unchanged.

Speaker #1: Our first-half performance puts us firmly on track and strengthens our confidence in delivering against those commitments over time. So, to wrap it up: strong H1, good visibility for the rest of the year allowing us to narrow our full-year 2026 revenue growth guidance, and continued confidence in our midterm outlook.

Speaker #1: And with that, I hand over to Christoph for some final words.

Speaker #2: Thank you, Boris. I'm switching to the final slide. To conclude, we announced a planned leadership transition this morning, designed to ensure continuity in terms of strategy and execution.

Christoph Tonini: Thank you, Boris. I am switching to the final slide. To conclude, we announced a planned leadership transition this morning designed to ensure continuity in terms of strategy and execution. Alberto Sanz de Lama was appointed new CEO effective 1 January 2027. He knows our business and strategy extremely well, and I have full confidence in him and our leadership team. I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and continuing to contribute to SMG in my future role as a Chairman, subject to shareholder approval. In H1 2026, we delivered broad-based double-digit revenue growth, expanded margins through operating leverage and cost discipline, and continued to execute well on our strategic priorities. We are also making good progress with AI, and AI-driven innovation is strengthening our product offering and competitive position while developed under our existing investment framework.

Speaker #2: Alberto was appointed new CEO, effective January 1st, '27. He knows our business and strategy extremely well, and I have full confidence in him and our leadership team.

Speaker #2: I look forward to supporting a smooth transition and continuing to contribute to SMG in my future role as chairman, subject to shareholder approval.

Speaker #2: In the first half of '26, we delivered road-based double-digit revenue growth, expanded margins through operating leverage and cost discipline, and continued to execute well on our strategic priorities.

Speaker #2: We are also making good progress with AI, and AI-driven innovation is strengthening our product offering and competitive position, while being developed under our existing investment framework.

Speaker #2: We have narrowed our full-year revenue growth guidance and remain committed to our midterm targets. Overall, the results underline the strength of our platforms.

Christoph Tonini: We have narrowed our full-year revenue growth guidance and remain committed to our midterm targets. Overall, the results underline the strength of our platforms, the great execution by our teams, and the resilience of our models as we continue to create value for customers, partners, and shareholders. Thank you to our employees, customers, partners, and shareholders for their continued commitment, trust, and support. With that, let us move to Q&A, and I will hand over to the moderator.

Speaker #2: The great execution by our teams and the resilience of our models enable us to continue creating value for customers, partners, and shareholders. Thank you to our employees, customers, partners, and shareholders for your continued commitment, trust, and support.

Speaker #2: With that, let's move to Q&A, and I will hand over to the moderator.

Speaker #1: Thank you. We will now begin our audio Q&A session. Please let me share some introductory remarks. If you have a question, please use the 'raise hand' function at the bottom of your Zoom screen to be added to the queue.

Operator: Thank you. We will now begin our audio Q&A session. Please let me share some introductory remarks. If you have a question, please use the raise hand function at the bottom of your Zoom screen to be added to the queue. Once your name has been announced, you can unmute and ask your question. We ask that you please limit yourself to one question. If you have a follow-up, please rejoin the queue and we will come back to you as time permits. If you wish to withdraw your question, you can lower your hand using the raise hand function. Thank you. A moment for the first question, please. Our first question comes from Yulia Kozakhevtseva at UBS. Please unmute your line.

Speaker #1: Once your name has been announced, you can unmute and ask your question. We ask that you please limit yourself to one question. If you have a follow-up, please rejoin the queue, and we will come back to you as time permits.

Speaker #1: If you wish to withdraw your question, you can lower your hand using the raise hand function. Thank you. And a moment for the first question, please.

Speaker #1: Our first question comes from Yulia Kezakovtseva at UBS. Please unmute your line.

Speaker #3: Yes, good morning, and thank you for taking my questions. This is Yulia from UBS. I actually have one question, about the excess cash usage.

Yulia Kozakhevtseva: Yes. Good morning, and thank you for taking my questions. This is Yulia Kozakhevtseva from UBS. I actually have one question about the excess cash usage. At the moment, it seems that your net leverage reduced around 0.7 times. Could you please elaborate on your capital allocation priorities going forward? As I said, how do you plan to use your excess cash? Thank you.

Yulia Kazakovtseva: Yes. Good morning, and thank you for taking my questions. This is Yulia from UBS. I actually have one question about the excess cash usage. At the moment, it seems that your net leverage reduced around 0.7 times. Could you please elaborate on your capital allocation priorities going forward? As I said, how do you plan to use your excess cash? Thank you.

Speaker #3: So, at the moment, it seems that your net leverage has reduced to around 0.7 times. Could you please elaborate on your capital allocation priorities going forward and, as I said, how you plan to use your excess cash?

Speaker #3: Thank you.

Speaker #2: So I think we announced initially that we would increase our dividends along adjusted EAT, and that's still the plan for the time being. We're expecting a considerable increase in our dividends—last year, it was CHF 80.5 million.

Boris Gussen: I think we announced initially that we would increase our dividends along adjusted EBIT, and that is still the plan for the time being. We are expecting a considerable increase in our dividends. Last year, it was CHF 80.5 million, and we are looking now in line with adjusted EBIT at a much higher number. Other than that, there are no concrete plans regarding share buybacks or M&A that we could communicate at this point of time.

Speaker #2: And we're looking now, in line with adjusted EAT, at a much higher number. Other than that, there are no concrete plans regarding share buybacks or M&A that we could communicate at this point in time.

Yulia Kozakhevtseva: Understood. Thank you very much.

Yulia Kazakovtseva: Understood. Thank you very much.

Speaker #3: Understood. Thank you very much.

Operator: Our next question comes from Andrew Ross at Barclays. Please unmute your line.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Andrew Ross at Barclays. Please unmute your line.

Speaker #4: Great, morning all. My question is on autos. There was a bit of noise in the press on the back of the pricing adjustments you made in May, with a few dealers complaining.

Andrew Ross: Great. Morning, all. My question is on autos. There was a bit of noise in the press on the back of the pricing adjustments you made in May around a few dealers complaining. Can you talk a bit about that pushback? How many dealers have either threatened to drop off or actually dropped off the platform since then, and any impact that has to H2 numbers, if any? I guess a follow-up to that is whether there have been any further conversations on the auto side with either the piece out of COMCO on the back of that noise or otherwise for us to be aware of over the period. Thanks.

Speaker #4: Can you talk a bit about that pushback? How many dealers have either threatened to drop off or actually dropped off the platform since then, and has there been any impact to H2 numbers, if any?

Speaker #4: And I guess a follow-up to that is whether there have been any further conversations on the auto side, either regarding the piece out of ComCo on the back of that noise or otherwise.

Speaker #4: For us to be aware of both periods. Thanks.

Speaker #2: Yeah, thank you. So I think there was definitely competitively driven noise out there in the press. We have seen that obviously, as in past years, the reaction of our customers was—so nobody was clapping their hands with the adjusted prices, but we have seen zero churn, and that's the most important.

Christoph Tonini: Yeah. Thank you. I think that was definitely competitor-driven noise trial in the press. We have seen that obviously, as in the past years, reaction of our customers. Nobody was clapping in the hands with the adjusted prices, but we have seen zero churn, and that's the most important. No churn at all. This gives us great confidence that after all, our customers appreciate the services and the performance we are delivering with our product. Therefore, also definitely no impact, a rather positive one in H2 out of professional packages. When it comes to COMCO, there is nothing going on with automotive and price variance. We haven't heard. There is long time back was some questions, but this is more than 2 years back. That was really press noise, but nothing in the market as such.

Speaker #2: So, no churn at all. This gives us great confidence that, after all, our customers appreciate the services and the performance we are delivering with our product and therefore, also definitely no impact—rather, a positive one—in H2 out of professional packages.

Speaker #2: When it comes to COMCO, there is nothing going on with automotive and price surveillance. We haven't heard anything—there was some question a long time back, but this was more than two years ago.

Speaker #2: So that was really just press noise, but nothing in the market as such. Thank you.

Marcus Diebel: Thank you.

Christoph Tonini: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Our next question comes from Marcus Diebel at JPM. Please unmute your line.

Operator 2: Our next question comes from Marcus Diebel at JPMorgan. Please unmute your line.

Operator: Our next question comes from Marcus Diebel at JPMorgan. Please unmute your line.

Speaker #4: Yeah, hi everyone. Boris, I wanted to follow up on the strong performance in GM. I think you mentioned it's really driven by volumes. Could you just explain a little bit more, also next to the slide that we've seen already?

Marcus Diebel: Yeah. Hi, everyone. Boris, I wanted to follow up on the strong performance in GM. I think you mentioned it is really driven by volumes. Could you just explain a little bit more also next to the slide that we have seen already? What is happening? Is it that individuals just post more given it is now much easier? Have you acquired a lot more customers? I just wanted to have a sense of the reasons for the strong development in GM and if we should extrapolate this also in the next few quarters. Thank you.

Speaker #4: Sort of like, what is sort of like happening? Is it that individuals just post more given it's now much easier? Have you acquired a lot more customers?

Speaker #4: I just wanted to have a sense of sort of like the reasons for the strong development in GM. And if we should sort of like extrapolate this also in the next few quarters.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

Speaker #2: All right. So GMV was up 13.1% compared to the previous year. We saw a strong performance across all key metrics. Visiting accounts were up 8%.

Christoph Tonini: All right. GMV was up 13.1% compared to the previous year. We saw a strong performance across all key metrics. Visiting accounts were up 8%. Unique buyers and sellers were up both 11%. Posted articles was up 4%. Average selling price was considerably up as a result also of one-offs. We saw, for instance, the gold coins category or the Panini stickers bringing that up considerably. We saw a healthy development across all basically health indicators, and that will continue throughout. The take rate was down by 0.1 percentage point. We talked about the rebates, the discounts, and we also said last time, we believed that that would grow volumes, and it actually happened. So, the take rate is not affected much at this point of time. For H2, I think we said it already.

Boris Gussen: All right. GMV was up 13.1% compared to the previous year. We saw a strong performance across all key metrics. Visiting accounts were up 8%. Unique buyers and sellers were up both 11%. Posted articles was up 4%. Average selling price was considerably up as a result also of one-offs. We saw, for instance, the gold coins category or the Panini stickers bringing that up considerably. We saw a healthy development across all basically health indicators, and that will continue throughout. The take rate was down by 0.1 percentage point. We talked about the rebates, the discounts, and we also said last time, we believed that that would grow volumes, and it actually happened. So, the take rate is not affected much at this point of time. For H2, I think we said it already.

Speaker #2: Unique buyers and sellers were up both 11%. Posted articles was up 4%. Average selling price was considerably up as a result, also due to one-offs.

Speaker #2: We saw, for instance, the coins—the gold coins category—or the Panini stickers, bringing that up considerably. So we saw a healthy development across all, basically, health indicators.

Speaker #2: And that will continue throughout. The take rate was down by 0.1 percentage points. We talked about the rebates, the discounts, and we also said last time we believed that that would grow volumes, and it actually happened.

Speaker #2: So the take rate is not affected much at this point in time. For H2, I think we already said that last year. I think we saw a 20% growth in H2 2025.

Christoph Tonini: Last year, I think we saw a 20% growth in H2 2025, and that clearly has also an effect on the year-over-year growth. We remain cautious for H2. All health indicators remain positive. But I would see the H2 growth around mid-single digit numbers. But still, full year would then, of course, be very positive also compared to what we said initially. Maybe just to add, I think what was really very successfully done was the rollout of Ricardo Plus for sellers. In the Ricardo Plus, sellers have certain items as a benefit, and this was an acceptance up to 65% of sellers using now the Ricardo Plus, and this is driving then what in the former part we mentioned as MoneyGuard.

Boris Gussen: Last year, I think we saw a 20% growth in H2 2025, and that clearly has also an effect on the year-over-year growth. We remain cautious for H2. All health indicators remain positive. But I would see the H2 growth around mid-single digit numbers. But still, full year would then, of course, be very positive also compared to what we said initially. Maybe just to add, I think what was really very successfully done was the rollout of Ricardo Plus for sellers. In the Ricardo Plus, sellers have certain items as a benefit, and this was an acceptance up to 65% of sellers using now the Ricardo Plus, and this is driving then what in the former part we mentioned as MoneyGuard.

Speaker #2: And that clearly also has an effect on the year-over-year growth, and so we remain cautious for H2. All health indicators remain positive, but I would see H2 growth around mid-single-digit numbers.

Speaker #2: But still, the full year will then, of course, be very positive also compared to what we said initially. And maybe just to add, I think what was really very successfully done was the rollout of Ricardo Plus for sellers.

Speaker #2: There were, in Ricardo Plus, sellers who have certain items as a benefit, and this was an acceptance—up to 65% of sellers are now using Ricardo Plus. This is driving then what, in the former part, we mentioned as Money Guard; we have more transactions concluded with this escrow payment, where we have, on the amount paid in the escrow, a certain split for us. This is also driving the label usage, where we also have a margin on it.

Christoph Tonini: We have more transaction concluded with this escrow payment where we have on the amount paid in the escrow, a certain split for us, and this is also driving the label usage, where we have also a margin on it. Ricardo Plus, that was a real success, and it will help to continue also the growth, as Boris mentioned in the second half year and next year.

Boris Gussen: We have more transaction concluded with this escrow payment where we have on the amount paid in the escrow, a certain split for us, and this is also driving the label usage, where we have also a margin on it. Ricardo Plus, that was a real success, and it will help to continue also the growth, as Boris mentioned in the second half year and next year.

Speaker #2: So Ricardo Plus, that was a real success, and it will help to continue also the growth, as Boris mentioned, in the second half-year and next year.

Speaker #4: Well, perfect. And mid single digit numbers just to clarify it means mid single digit percentage growth, no? In H2.

Marcus Diebel: Well, perfect. And mid-single digit numbers, just to clarify, it means mid-single digit percentage growth in H2?

Speaker #2: Yes. Yes, that's correct. Yeah.

Christoph Tonini: Yes, that's correct.

Boris Gussen: Yes, that's correct.

Speaker #4: Yeah. Okay. Super. Thank you.

Marcus Diebel: Okay, super. Thank you.

Speaker #2: Thank you.

Christoph Tonini: Thank you.

Boris Gussen: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Your next question comes from Mark Bergi at Finance and Wirtschaft. Please unmute your line. Mark, your line is now open. Please unmute.

Operator: Your next question comes from Mark Boerge at Finanz und Wirtschaft. Please unmute your line. Mark, your line is now open. Please unmute.

Operator: Your next question comes from Marc Bürgi at Finanz und Wirtschaft. Please unmute your line. Mark, your line is now open. Please unmute.

Speaker #2: We haven't heard you.

Christoph Tonini: We haven't heard you.

Speaker #4: Can you hear me now?

Mark Boerge: Can you hear me now?

Marc Bürgi: Can you hear me now?

Speaker #2: Yes.

Christoph Tonini: Yes.

Speaker #4: Can you hear me now? Oh, okay. Great. Thank you. So my question is regarding your cooperation with LLMs. Could you maybe outline how you're working together with LLMs and how you try to make sure that, yes, that this is integrated into your business model?

Mark Boerge: Can you hear me now? Oh, okay.

Marc Bürgi: Can you hear me now? Oh, okay.

Christoph Tonini: Yes.

Mark Boerge: Great. Thank you. My question is regarding your cooperation with LLMs. Could you maybe outline how you are working together with LLMs and how you try to make sure that this is integrated into your business model?

Marc Bürgi: Great. Thank you. My question is regarding your cooperation with LLMs. Could you maybe outline how you are working together with LLMs and how you try to make sure that this is integrated into your business model?

Speaker #2: Yeah. So, first of all, our strategy is to remain LLM-agnostic, both on the seeker presence side but also in the development of our product.

Christoph Tonini: Yeah. First of all, our strategy is to remain LLM agnostic, both on the Seeker presence, but also in development of our products. That means that we are working on visibility on all the LLM players, that our products are visible if a certain search is started on an LLM, but at the same time, that we also make sure that our proprietary data, which we think is unique, is going to remain protected and is not going out to the LLM.

Speaker #2: That means we are working on visibility across all the LLM players, ensuring that our products are visible if a certain search is started on an LLM.

Speaker #2: But at the same time, we also want to make sure that our proprietary data, which we think is unique, remains protected and is not going out to the LLM.

Speaker #2: And as I said, on the development side, we are using all kinds of LLM models, and we also always want to have the possibility to switch the model.

Christoph Tonini: As I said, on the development side, we are using all kind of LLM models, and we also want always to have the possibility to switch the model, and therefore also to have no anchor when it comes to costs, which could raise up on the token side, so that we are always looking, can we also switch a certain application, a certain process to next generation open source models. This works quite well, and that is why also, yes, we are going to see an increase in token costs, but this is absolutely manageable. We see even, as Boris mentioned, we are going to start an AI project because we see clearly potential also of efficiency gains with including AI in all our processes.

Speaker #2: And therefore also to have no anchor when it comes to costs, which could rise up on the token side. So that we're always looking: can we also switch a certain application, a certain process, to next-generation open source models.

Speaker #2: And this works quite well, and that's why also, yes, we're going to see an increase in token costs, but this is absolutely manageable. And we see, even as Boris mentioned, we're going to start an AI project because we clearly see potential for efficiency gains by including AI in all our processes.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

Mark Boerge: Thank you.

Marc Bürgi: Thank you.

Speaker #2: Thank you.

Christoph Tonini: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Thank you. As a reminder, if you would like to ask a question, please use the raise hand feature once you have been invited to ask your question.

Operator: Thank you. As a reminder, if you would like to ask a question, please use the raise hand feature. Once you have been invited to ask your question, please unmute and ask your question. If you have dialed in, please use star 9 to raise your hand and star 6 to unmute. Our next question comes from Chiara Di Giammaria at Berenberg. Please unmute your line.

Speaker #1: Please unmute and ask your question. If you've dialed in, please use star nine to raise your hand and star six to unmute. Our next question comes from Chiara Di Gianmaria at Berenberg.

Speaker #1: Please unmute your line.

Speaker #5: Yes, good morning. Thanks for the presentation. I have two questions, if I may. The first one is a follow-up on AI. I appreciate it's early stage, but can you give us an indication of the token cost and the potential net effect with the savings from AI that you expect?

Chiara Di Giammaria: Yes, good morning. Thanks for the presentation. I have two questions, if I may. The first one is a follow-up on AI. I appreciate it is early stage, but can you give us an indication on the token cost and the potential net effect with the savings from AI that you expect? The second question is on adjustments. Can we expect a similar level for full year based on H1, at least for the share-based compensation, or any indications here? Thank you.

Speaker #5: And then the second question is on adjustments. Can we expect a similar level for the full year based on H1, at least for the share-based compensation, or any indications here?

Speaker #5: Thank you.

Speaker #2: Okay, so on the LLM cost, we have just seen some price adjustments on their side. Effective July, the costs are, in the grand scheme, a part of our total.

Christoph Tonini: Well, on the LLM costs, we have just seen some price adjustments on their side, effective July. The costs are, in the grand scheme of our total costs, neglectable at this point of time. We said that already before. We will see an increase of token or consumption-based costs over the next years. That is modeled into our midterm plans, into our guidance. It will come along with savings at the same time, when you think about potential increases in headcount that we do not see, for instance. So we knew that already a long time ago that this would happen, and we can control that in a well manner, and we can cover that in our existing guidance throughout the next years. There was another question on H2 performance, and you said share-based compensation. Is that right?

Boris Gussen: Well, on the LLM costs, we have just seen some price adjustments on their side, effective July. The costs are, in the grand scheme of our total costs, neglectable at this point of time. We said that already before. We will see an increase of token or consumption-based costs over the next years. That is modeled into our midterm plans, into our guidance. It will come along with savings at the same time, when you think about potential increases in headcount that we do not see, for instance. So we knew that already a long time ago that this would happen, and we can control that in a well manner, and we can cover that in our existing guidance throughout the next years. There was another question on H2 performance, and you said share-based compensation. Is that right?

Speaker #2: Costs are negligible at this point in time. We said that already before. We will see an increase in token- or consumption-based costs over the next years.

Speaker #2: That is modeled into our mid-term plans and into our guidance. It will come along with savings at the same time. When you think about potential increases in headcount that we don't see, for instance.

Speaker #2: So, we knew that already a long time ago—that this would happen. And we can control that in a well-mannered way, and we can cover that in our existing guidance throughout the next years.

Speaker #2: And then there was another question on H2 performance, and you said share-based compensation. Is that right?

Boris Gussen: Yes.

Chiara Di Giammaria: Yes.

Speaker #5: Yes, correct.

Speaker #2: So we have we will not see an uptick in share-based compensation at all. It is fully recognized at this point of time. And we so and as you may know last year we had our appeal.

Boris Gussen: We will not see an uptick in share-based compensation at all. It is fully recognized at this point of time. As you may know, last year we had our IPO, we had a major chunk of share-based compensation, IPO incentive stand. Then we said this number would considerably go down now over the next years, and this all happens exactly as expected. Our adjustments as a whole are significantly down. You see that also reflected in the EPS, and it remains a single millions number, for the full year of 2026 and also throughout the next years.

Speaker #2: We had a major chunk of share-based compensation IPO incentives there. And then we said this summer it would considerably go down. Now, over the next years, and this all happens exactly as expected.

Speaker #2: Our adjustments as a whole are significantly down. You see that also reflected in the EPS, and it remains a single-digit million number for the full year of '26.

Speaker #2: And also throughout the next years.

Speaker #5: Thanks a lot.

Chiara Di Giammaria: Thanks a lot.

Speaker #1: Thank you. Our final question today—going back to Andrew Ross at Barclays. Please unmute your line.

Christoph Tonini: Thank you.

Boris Gussen: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. For our final question of today, we are going back to Andrew Ross at Barclays. Please unmute your line.

Speaker #4: Hi guys. Sorry, I thought I'd sneak back in the queue, if that's okay. I just wanted to follow up on the C2C line in Autos, because we're soft in H1.

Andrew Ross: Hi, guys. Sorry, I thought I would sneak back in the queue if that is okay. I just wanted to follow up on the C2C line in autos. It was a bit soft in H1. Just give us a bit more color as to why that was. I think you spoke about some value-based pricing tiers that have gone in. We would be curious to understand a bit more detail as to how that is going to work, drive an acceleration in growth. Since I am on the line, maybe I can just ask you a bit about what you have learned about putting on conversational search in the different verticals and any KPIs you can share with us about how people are engaging with that, whether there are any differences by vertical in how you present the conversational search on the home page, et cetera. It would be interesting to understand.

Speaker #4: Just give us a bit more color as to why that was, and then I think you spoke about some body-based pricing tiers that have gone in.

Speaker #4: So we'd be curious to understand a bit more detail as to how that's going to work—driver and acceleration and growth. I mean, since I'm on the line, maybe I can just ask you a bit about what you've learned about putting on conversational search in the different verticals, and any KPIs you can share with us about how people are engaging with that, whether there's any differences by vertical and how you present the conversational search on the homepage, etc., etc.

Andrew Ross: Since I am on the line, maybe I can just ask you a bit about what you have learned about putting on conversational search in the different verticals and any KPIs you can share with us about how people are engaging with that, whether there are any differences by vertical in how you present the conversational search on the home page, et cetera. It would be interesting to understand.

Speaker #4: would be interesting to understand.

Speaker #2: Yeah, I may be starting with the second one. So, as we just started to roll this out, I would say data points are not yet there where we can give a very precise answer to this question, if the usage is different.

Christoph Tonini: Yeah. Maybe starting with the second one. As we just started to roll this out, I would say data points are not yet there where we can give a very precise answer to this question if the usage is different. I think it is clear that the engagement will increase as soon as people see that there is a real additional value. I would say we started really with the 1.0 conversational search now. Continuously, and that is the beauty in our business, continuously now improving also these functionalities. The most advanced, it is at GM, where we see already the positive impact of engagement and better usage and better answers.

Speaker #2: I think it's clear that engagement will increase as soon as people see that there is real additional value. So I would say we really started with the 1.0 conversational search now and continuously—and that's the beauty.

Speaker #2: In our business, we are continuously improving these functionalities. The most advanced is at GM, where we already see the positive impact of engagement, better usage, and better answers.

Speaker #2: But in real estate and also in automotive, it's too early now because people are sometimes just not realizing that. I'll give you a concrete example: they're using conversational search, typing in BMW X3, which is nothing else than what they would have used as a filter before.

Christoph Tonini: But in real estate, and also in automotive, it is too early now because people are sometimes just not realizing that. To give you a concrete example, they are using conversational search, typing in BMW X3 which is nothing else than they would have set as a filter before. This is increasing now, the adoption, but it is too early. I think we can, with the full year figure, give much more concrete data points, how much on-site has increased and how much also the performance has increased with such users. When it comes to the first question, we have seen internationally the weakening of B2C in automotive. It is not a unique situation in Switzerland, and there are probably several reasons, not one single one. There is definitely still a corona impact where we have seen a shortage on the supply chain, which has a certain impact now also on secondhand cars.

Speaker #2: So this is increasing now the adoption, but it's too early. I think we can, with the full year figure, give much more concrete data points on how much onsite has increased and also how much the performance has increased with such users.

Speaker #2: When it comes to the first question, we have seen internationally a weakening of B2C in automotive—it's not a unique situation in Switzerland. And there are probably several reasons.

Christoph Tonini: When it comes to the first question, we have seen internationally the weakening of B2C in automotive. It is not a unique situation in Switzerland, and there are probably several reasons, not one single one. There is definitely still a corona impact where we have seen a shortage on the supply chain, which has a certain impact now also on secondhand cars.

Speaker #2: Not one single one. There is definitely still corona impact, where we have seen shortages in the supply chain, which has a certain impact now also on secondhand cars.

Christoph Tonini: There is the EV impact. For us, most important is the trend is already coming back. We still have a bit of softening, but it is in terms of volume, in low single digits, and with better monetization, we can already offset this trend. We hope that we are going to see increase again from next year on. Also, as we always said, the AutoScout24 Direct, which there will be now also a campaign in the H2 because we really want the Swiss people know that they do not have to just trade in their car at the dealer's place. They really can have this offer with AutoScout24 Direct. This has to be known, and if we are successful, and we have good reasons to believe it is going to be successful, we will bring new volume, additional volume also to our platforms.

Speaker #2: There is the EV impact. So for us, most important is the trend is already coming back. We still have a bit of softening, but it's low in terms of volume—in low single digits—and with better monetization, we can already offset this trend.

Speaker #2: And we hope that we're going to see an increase again from next year on. Also, as we always said, the AutoScout Direct, for which there will now also be a campaign in the second half, because we really want Swiss people to know that they don't have to just trade in their car at the dealer's place.

Speaker #2: They really can have this offer with AutoScout24 Direct. This has to be known, and if we are successful—and we have good reasons to believe it's going to be successful—we will bring new volume, additional volume also to our platforms.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

Andrew Ross: Thank you.

Speaker #2: Thank you.

Christoph Tonini: Thank you, Edmund.

Christoph Tonini: Thank you, Andrew.

Speaker #1: With this last question, we conclude today's webinar. Thank you, everyone, for joining, and have a great day.

Operator: With this last question, we conclude today's webinar. Thank you everyone for joining, and have a great day.

Speaker #2: Thanks a lot. Have a good day. Bye-bye. Thank you.

Christoph Tonini: Thanks a lot. Have a good day. Bye-bye. Thank you. Bye.

Christoph Tonini: Thanks a lot. Have a good day. Bye-bye.

Boris Gussen: Thank you. Bye.

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