Benedetto Vigna
Analyst · UBS. Please go ahead. Your line is open
Gracias, Nicoletta. Thank you everyone for joining us today. I would like to start by thanking all the women and men at Ferrari for their passion and dedication, which have been essential in navigating the first months of this year. Without the tireless effort of all of them from first to last, the strong result we present today wouldn't have been possible, I have no doubt. The current technology transition is creating a continuously evolving landscape. From my experience, and having managed some technology transformation in the past, I have learned that being agile and nimble is key to success. These two qualities underpin our strategic plan and the progress we are making are perfectly on track with respect to what we presented at the Capital Market Day almost one year ago. In particular, I would like to comment on two elements extremely important for our further growth: the building -- the e-building and our differentiated product offering. Let's start with the e-building. It grows taller and taller every day we come to office. This will be the home of our internally developed strategic electric components and it will grant us a higher degree of production flexibility for our hybrid and full electric models. And now the differentiated product offering. Today, it includes ICE and hybrids whose deliveries' weight doubled in the quarter reaching 35%. Moreover, in line with plans, we will soon add to the family our full electric model tailored to address our current client needs. As we have done throughout this, our history, we will exploit new technologies to the utmost to enhance our sports cars' driving thrills. And we will read in our own distinctly uncompromising way. We want to give our clients greater freedom to choose the right type of powertrain, so we welcome the commitment at European Union level to allow the adoption of e-fuels. We believe that ICE still has an important role to play also in a carbon-neutral world. And together with our partners, we are studying and evaluating solution that will contribute decreasing CO2 emissions. As Ferrari, moreover, we have a unique advantage because in 2026, our Formula 1 cars will begin to use 100% sustainable fuel. And this means that we will continue to develop technologies on track and later move them to road. E-fuels can already power our current internal combustion engines. While the production of e-fuels will receive a boost from the recent European Union decision, I see many questions and doubts about their costs and availability. Although, I can understand this question, I'm a firm believer in the power of technology innovation. I have learned from experience, how initial difficulties in a new technology can be overcome as you learn how to optimize the process. This will be true for both electrification and e-fuels. We will, therefore, continue to execute our product strategy detailed during the Capital Market Day with the highest determination. As we move towards our objective to reach carbon neutrality by end of this decade, we also want to play our part in setting an example and inspiring wider change in energy landscape. While, we continue tirelessly to improve the efficiency of our manufacturing processes and increase the share of solar energy use, we work also beyond the walls of our plant. As such we recently announced the creation of a photovoltaic plant, serving the newly created renewable energy community of Fiorano and Maranello, which is the first one in Italy ever promoted and supported by a company for the benefit of its local territory. It will bring a positive environmental and social economic impact. Firstly, sharing zero-mile renewable energy reduces CO2 emission and thus we can avoid energy losses during the distribution. Secondly, the energy community will grant a tangible savings in energy bills for its members being citizen, institution, commercial activities and factories. And the renewable energy community initiative is complemented with the introduction of fossil-free hydro-treated vegetable oil on the tracks of our most relevant logistic partners in Europe, substituting the use of diesel and abating up to 80% the CO2 emissions. Now let's talk about our strong first quarter results that I'm sure you have already noticed on the projected chart. I'm very pleased to highlight the following three key data; revenues at €1.4 billion, up 20.5% versus the prior year; adjusted EBITDA at nearly €540 million with a 37.6% margin; industrial free cash flow generation at approximately €270 million. Our order book already extends into 2025 on the back of a continuously strong demand. We have just opened the order collection for the newly launched Ferrari Roma Spider. And today we are also pleased to announce, the long-awaited reopening for the Purosangue with deliveries due in 2026. Further testament to the strength of demand for our cash is the continued dynamism of the Ferrari pre-owned market, which translates into sound residual values. The enthusiasm of our clients is also expressed by their attendance level at all our events. In March, the Ferrari Cavalcade attracted over 80 Ferrari vehicles and their owners on a 1,000-kilometer adventure through Morocco culminating in the unveiling of the Ferrari Roma Spider. This latest model from Maranello is a timelessly, elegant high-performance car with a contemporary take on the chic pleasure-seeking Italian lifestyle of the 1950s and 1960s. What makes it so striking is the adoption of a soft top, a solution making a welcome return to the Prancing Horse range on a front-engined car, 54 years after the launch of the 365 GTS4 in 1969 that many of us have seen several times in the Miami Vice TV series. I'm also proud to state that Ferrari has won three prestigious awards. The first one related to Purosangue. It has been named the Red Dot Best of the Best in the product design category. The second, for Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo, voted the Red Dot, Best of the Best in the innovative product category. And the third one is, the Red Dot for the 296 GPS, Maranello's first spider powered by a plug-in hybrid V6 engine. And what about the motorsport? The racing year, has just begun with mixed results, so far. 2023 will be the Formula 1, longest-ever season. And as we did in the first four races, we will continue to fight race by race with ambition and humility. Attention to details, focus and continuous learning will be key as the season unfolds. In October 2022, we unveiled the 499P, our Le Mans Hypercar. And this March, at the 1000 miles of Sebring, it led the Ferrari's return after 50 years, to the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The three-podium, we won in Sebring, Portimão and SPA-Francorchamps, are confirming we are competitive. And with humility, we will continue to learn race by race. We all eagerly await our return to Le Mans in June, a milestone for endurance racing and an experience, we will share with our clients and our fans. But before leaving motorsport, I would like to remember that SPA-Francorchamps, has been a special race for us because the Ferrari team that won with our 488 GTE, was composed by two men and one woman. Lilou, joined us a few months ago and it has been the first time in FIA, World Championship that a woman, won a race. And this together with our equal salary certification, and the girls on track program underlines, our strong commitment on diversity and inclusion side. 2022 was important for the increased expression of our brand into lifestyle, which we are continuing to nurture with the fourth fashion show that took place in February, during the Milan Fashion Week. It generated a strong positive coverage, from press and key opinion leaders. I like also to underline, the incredible reception of the brand-new exhibition Game Changers, that is on display since February 18 at Museo Enzo Ferrari here in Modena, that together with the one in Maranello registered record level of visitor attendance, in the first quarter more than 100,000 people more than 1,000 people per day. Also our thematic parks are experiencing record levels of visitor attendance, sustained by the introduction in January of Mission Ferrari, the world's most immersive mega coaster and the last addition to the Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi. Before handing over to Antonio, to review Q1 2023 earnings in all the details, I like to conclude saying that these first months of 2023, have been another significant step on a journey during, which we will continue to execute our strategy with commitment, focus and determination. Antonio, please the stage is yours.