Unipol, profit and dividend rise. List of seven names for Bper, the first is Pope

MILANO – The Unipol Group closes the 2023 financial year with a consolidated net profit of 1,331 million euro, a value which is positively affected by 267 million euro of the badwill recognized as a result of the first equity consolidation of the investment in Banca Popolare di Sondrio (subsequently to the acquisition by Unipol Gruppo of a 10.2% stake in the Bank, which brought the Group’s overall shareholding to 19.7%). The net result, excluding this extraordinary item, is equal to 1,064 million euros.

In 2022, explains a note from the insurance group, it had achieved a consolidated net profit of 866 million euros, determined according to the previous accounting principles, which reflected extraordinary components for a positive balance of approximately 92 million euros9 (774 million euro the normalized result). The 2022 final balance, redetermined for comparative purposes in application of the new principles, would be equal to 675 million euros (584 million euros the normalized result). As at 31 December 2023, direct insurance premiums, before reinsurance, stood at 15,060 million euros, up (+10.4%) compared to 13,645 million euros as at 31 December 2022.

A dividend has been established at 0.38 euros per share, an increase compared to 0.37 euros per share approved in the previous year, for a total amount of approximately 273 million euros.

The board of directors also decided to present a list for the renewal of the board of directors and the board of statutory auditors of Bper, expiring with the meeting of 19 April. For the board of directors, we read in a note, Gianni Franco Papa, Elena Beccalli and Maria Elena Cappello, who already sit on the board of directors, will be renominated, to which are added the names of Fabio Cerchiai, Matteo Cordero di Montezemolo, Angela Maria Cossellu and Stefano Rangone, for a total of seven nominations. As regards the board of auditors, Angelo Mario Giudici and Silvia Bocci are nominated as standing auditors and Andrea Scianca and Federica Mantini as alternate auditors.

According to rumors, Unipol, Bper’s largest shareholder with just under 20% of the capital, will support Papa’s appointment as Bper’s new CEO, replacing the outgoing Piero Luigi Montani.