Interview

With an EBIT of CHF 130.5 million, Implenia achieved its target for 2024; it further increased profitability and all its Divisions were successful. The Group has thus been able to continue the positive business performance of recent years while consistently implementing its successful strategy. Its comprehensive, integrated portfolio of services along the entire value chain and its sector-oriented specialisations, put Implenia in an excellent position to take on large and challenging projects in these areas.

Implenia has – once again – achieved its targets in 2024, continuing its positive business performance. What do you think of the results?

André Wyss Implenia achieved EBIT of CHF 130.5 million, while the EBIT margin rose to 3.7%. Group revenue, at CHF 3,559 million, was at previous year's level. The order book remained high at CHF 6,788 million and is of good quality. Strict application of Value Assurance, Implenia’s risk management, ensures that these projects have a solid risk and margin profile. These results confirm that our range of services and our expertise are in demand.

Hans Ulrich Meister This success would not have been possible without the commitment and hard work of our employees on our countless construction sites and in our offices, as well as the excellent performance of our management team. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank everyone for their efforts. Based on many years of experience and comprehensive expertise, Implenia has built up a differentiated and scalable range of services.

The equity ratio and cash situation are important metrics for the Implenia Group. How did these two key figures change last year?

André Wyss Equity increased by CHF 80.9 million to CHF 656.7 million in financial year 2024. The Group improved its equity ratio to 21.2% as of 31 December 2024 (2023: 19.8%), further strengthening its financial stability. Adjusted free cash flow, excluding Wincasa M&A and above-average investments in the real estate portfolio, came to CHF 58.2 million.

Implenia’s strategy has proven its worth in recent years, as clearly demonstrated by its continued success. What happens next?

Hans Ulrich Meister  The megatrends of population growth and urbanisation, energy transition and investment in new or modernised transport and energy infrastructure continue to stimulate demand for real estate and infra-
structure projects. With its comprehensive, integrated portfolio of services, Implenia is excellently positioned to take on large, challenging projects in these areas. We have reaffirmed our strategy with its four priorities – Portfolio, Profitable Growth, Innovation and Talent & Organisation – and continue to implement it consistently. In the next strategic phase “New Horizon”, we want to further improve our profitability in order to achieve our medium-term financial target; an EBIT margin of >4.5% and an equity ratio of 25%. We are optimising our existing business, expanding it and broadening our portfolio with the addition of new higher-margin services along the value chain. This can be achieved through organic as well as inorganic growth.

The Group’s organisational structure is also being adjusted as of 1 April 2025. How will Implenia be organised in future?

André Wyss We have further developed our operating model in line with the strategy. We are organising our business portfolio into three Divisions – led by existing members of the Implenia Executive Committee: Divisions Real Estate and Buildings will be merged into Division Buildings led by Adrian Wyss. This Division includes the real estate portfolio as well as building construction activities in Switzerland and Germany. Division Civil Engineering, headed by Erwin Scherer, remains a leading provider of tunnelling services throughout Europe, as well as of civil engineering and special foundations services in Switzerland and Germany. Division Service Solutions, led by Anita Eckardt, is evolving into a provider of innovative services. It combines expertise in the fields of engineering, planning and management, and now also includes Wincasa, the leading service provider for real estate management, centre and mixed-use site management and construction management.These adjustments to the operating model will lead to a reduction in the size of the Implenia Executive Committee from eight to seven members. As previously communicated, I will be handing over my role as CEO of the Group to my successor Jens Vollmar, Head of the current Division Buildings, on 1 April 2025.

What targets has Implenia set itself for 2025?

André Wyss We expect EBIT of CHF ~140 million for financial year 2025 based on a strong operating business in a challenging market environment. As a mid-term financial target, the Group is aiming for an EBIT margin of >4.5% and an equity ratio of 25%.

Can shareholders expect a higher dividend again in 2025?

Hans Ulrich Meister Implenia wants its shareholders to participate in the company’s growing economic success, so the Board of Directors will ask the Annual General Meeting of 25 March 2025 to approve an increase in the dividend to CHF 0.90 (previous year CHF 0.60) per share. The Board anticipates that Implenia will continue to distribute dividends in the future.

As of 31 March, André Wyss will step down as CEO of Implenia, and Jens Vollmar, the current Head of Division Buildings, will take over as the new CEO. How will you ensure continuity?

Hans Ulrich Meister André Wyss has achieved a great deal in the last six and a half years as CEO of Implenia: together with his leadership team, he has led Implenia through a comprehensive transformation that was successfully completed in summer 2022. Implenia is now a financially healthy company that is excellently positioned in the market for sustainable profitable growth. I would like to thank you, André, and the entire Implenia team for this extraordinary achievement, and I wish you every success with your new challenges at SBB. 

As the longstanding head of a large Division, Jens Vollmar has played a major role in the development and implementation of our strategy. His experience, skills and personality make him the ideal successor as CEO. I wish Jens Vollmar a good start and look forward to continuing the Implenia success story with him from April onwards.