In the first 9 months of the year, companies within the holding registered a cumulative EBITDA value of RON 59.5 million, indicating an increase of 48% compared to the similar period, a result that reflects the efficiency of the optimization measures and the alignment strategy of operations as well as the efforts of commercial teams.

Considering the major development stakes of the local industrial sector in the coming years, the holding applies a growth strategy focused on three essential areas: investments for the future, transformation and digitization initiatives, as well as strategic focus on research and development. This approach highlights the holding company's ability to generate value for the entire managed portfolio.

ROCA Industry achieved these results in an economic context with multiple challenges, with the index of residential construction works registering a decline of more than 23% in the first 8 months of 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to INS data. In the first 9 months of 2024, the number of building permits for residential buildings increased by 3.3% from 2023, reflecting a slight recovery from the steep 23.5% decline in 2023 (9M) compared to 2022, but the current level remains significantly below that of two years ago, highlighting a pronounced base effect and an incomplete sector recovery.

“The growing results reported at the end of Q3 2024 confirm our strategic direction, demonstrating that we are applying the valuable lessons learned along the way. In a market context that remains complicated, ROCA Industry is gaining market share and profitability, which validates the success of our holding model based on sustainable growth and continuous efficiency. We have developed a clear strategy together with the management teams, operationally focused on investments for the future, digital transformation and emphasis on research and development, key directions to develop regional champions," said Ionuț Bindea, CEO of ROCA Industry.

Growing performance for ROCA Industry portfolio companies

BICO Industries (60% ownership), leader in the production of fiberglass mesh in Eastern Europe and the third-largest producer in the EU, reports a turnover of RON 173.4 million, up by 11.7% compared to 9M 2023. EBITDA reached the value of RON 16.9 million, four times higher, maintaining the advance acquired in the first half of 2024. From a commercial point of view, by increasing sales on the domestic market, as well as operational optimizations that generated increased commercial margin, it faced the challenges generated by the aggressive decrease in demand at the level of the European Economic Area.

EVOLOR (100% ownership) consolidates its position as one of the biggest players in the paint and varnish production industry, reaching a turnover of RON 84.6 million, up by almost 6% compared to the same period in 2023. As a result of the increase in marketing expenses, the effect of which is estimated to be observed in the sales of the following period, but also of the salary expenses, EBITDA reached a value of RON 10.1 million in Q3 2024, 27% below the level of 2023, an exceptional year for the company. The company's sustainable growth continues with the completion of the operationalization of the decorative plaster department in the new factory on the Oltchim platform, which will increase production capacity by 15%.

With the ongoing merger process, Eco Euro Doors (100% ownership), the largest Romanian manufacturer of doors for residential construction and Workshop Doors (100% ownership from October 2024), the second manufacturer on the interior door market in the region, will form a consolidated regional player. Together, these two companies generated a turnover of RON 79.5 million, slightly down compared to 9M 2023, and an EBITDA of RON 18 million, 37% above last year's level, an evolution also due to the benefits generated by the synergies created between the two companies and the continuation of EED's cost optimization efforts.

DIAL (100% ownership), one of the largest producers of metallic wire products, recorded a 34% increase in turnover, reaching RON 55.1 million. And the operational performance maintains the growth trend from the first part of the year, with an advance of 87% in 9M 2024, the EBITDA value reaching RON 6.3 million. All these results were possible mainly on the background of the increased sales volume on most product categories as a result of the implementation of the commercial strategy by launching new products, maximizing existing channels and identifying new sales channels, implicitly through the development of the export area, the correlation of production with the needs identified in the sales area and optimizations brought by the purchasing department.

ROCA Industry, a holding company majority owned by the private equity company ROCA Investments, represents the first strategic pillar dedicated to generating value by consolidating and modernizing Romanian production capacities, with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the national industry.

ROCA Industry owns, directly and indirectly, a number of 8 significant players in the construction field: BICO Industries (the first and largest national manufacturer of fiberglass mesh and the only domestic manufacturer of fiberglass reinforcement), EVOLOR (one of the largest players in the paint and varnish production industry), ECO EURO DOORS (the largest Romanian manufacturer of doors for residential construction), WORKSHOP DOORS (the second largest Romanian manufacturer of doors intended for residential construction), DIAL (manufacturer of metal wire products), ELECTROPLAST (one of the most important manufacturers of electrical cables), as well as fiberglass manufacturers Terra and Iranga, through BICO Industries.