The president of Vocento, Ignacio Ybarra, reiterated this Tuesday at the company's shareholders meeting, held in Bilbao, the objective of maintaining the strategic design to deepen digital and diversification businesses, which have been the key to the transformation in recent years and which already contribute 46% of income. The board has approved the distribution of a total dividend of 5.5 million euros – approximately 0.045 euros per share -, which means allocating the entire 2023 net profit – 4.26 million euros – to shareholder remuneration, together to an additional amount from reserves.
Ignacio Ybarra referred to last year's fiscal year in which total revenues of 362.3 million euros were recorded, with an increase of 5.1%, in a complex context in which the company has continued its containment process. of expenses. In addition to the incorporation into the consolidation scope of the &Rosàs agency, the commitment to diversification and the advancement of digital businesses has contributed decisively to the increase in income. Digital subscriptions, in which Vocento assumed a pioneering role in Spain, increased their contribution to the income statement by 28% last year.
In 2023, the group reached an EBITDA of 34.5 million euros, 2.9% more than the previous year and within the commitments that had been announced at the previous meeting. The year closed with a net financial debt of 15.1 million euros, which the president has described as “moderate.”
Looking to the future, Ybarra has shown his conviction in the positive evolution of the company. To lead what he has called the “transition process,” the board has placed its trust in Iñaki Arechabaleta, who takes over as chief executive: “Iñaki is a man of the house with a more than proven track record. He joined Vocento thirty years ago and has contributed essentially to making us the group we are today. The president has also thanked Luis Enríquez, until now CEO, who today handed over the baton to Arechabaleta for his “thirteen intense and complex years.” Enriquez, after breaking down the main figures for the last year, has reviewed the evolution of Vocento since he took the reins of its management in 2011, with a special emphasis on the diversification process. He has also shown his “recognition of the work of the more than 1,000 journalists in the group.”
Among the agreements approved by shareholders is also the incorporation of Marta Elorza Trueba to the board of directors as an independent member, who will replace Carlos Delclaux, who has remained on the company's governing body for the last eight years. Elorza has a degree in Economics and Business Sciences from the Commercial University of Deusto and began her professional career in the audit area of Arthur Andersen to later join the Banco Santander group as a director. She is currently an independent director of OpenBank and president of its risk, regulation and compliance committee. She is also an independent director of Santander Consumer Finance and Open Digital Services. With this appointment, Vocento will exceed for the first time the threshold of 40% of women on the board of directors and all those who are classified as independent will be women.
On the other hand, the president has stopped to detail the progress that has been achieved in compliance with sustainability plans, with 46.55% of energy consumption already coming from renewable sources and 98.49% recycling. of waste. Within the commitment assumed in the equality plans, he has also highlighted that 44.65% of the group's staff are women.
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