EVS Annual Report 2023

EVS capital is represented by 14,327,024 shares without a nominal value.

Since December 15, 2011, EVS shares have been dematerialized (registered or book-entry shares). The securities in bearer form issued by the company, which would not have yet been registered on a securities account, have automatically been converted to book-entry securities as of that date.

EVS shares are listed on the continuous Euronext Brussels market under ISIN code BE0003820371.The first listing was in October 1998 at a price of EUR 7.44 (EUR 37.20 before split on June 5, 2005).

EVS is, amongst others, part of the Euronext BelMid and Euronext Tech Leaders indices. EVS is also eligible for the Equity Savings Plan in France (“plan PEA”) and for the Equity Savings plan for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in France (“plan PEA-PME”).

The maximum value reached by the stock price in 2023 was EUR 29.50 on December 27, and the minimum value of EUR 21.00 was recorded on July 10. On December 31, 2023, EVS had a market capitalization of EUR 413.3 million with a share price of EUR 28.85. The value of EVS shares rose by 29.7% in 2023.

EVS regularly engages with its shareholders and the market. We consider it an important mission to create transparency and clarity for our shareholders and the market. We spend time with the market to ensure they understand our environment and understand the dynamics of our company.

In 2023, EVS continued its effort to create transparency around the company strategy and the market potential. We continued our engagements with existing shareholders and reinvented the way we reach out to new investors. We also organized our first Investor Day in November 2023, expanding our efforts from the Analyst Day organized in 2022 to a broader audience.

EVS will continue its efforts to reach existing and new shareholders in 2024. A second Investor Day is planned for 2024 with the objective of also reaching private investors, in addition to institutional investors and analysts.

EVS considers it important to provide our shareholders with long term perspectives with regard to return on their investment. In that framework, the dividend policy is an important angle of our overall shareholder engagement.

In 2018 the Board of Directors launched an initial multi-year dividend policy providing stable dividends during a three-year period from 2018 to 2021. The policy was renewed for 3 years at the beginning of 2022, providing new guidance for the years 2022 up till 2024.

Generally, the dividend is paid in two parts: an interim dividend at the end of November and the final dividend in May, after the approval of the General Meeting.

For the year 2023 a total dividend of EUR 1.10 will be proposed at the Ordinary General Meeting of May 21, 2024. This proposed dividend for the year 2023 is in line with the guidance issued in 2022.

From the total EUR 1.10 dividend proposal, EUR 0.50 was already distributed as an interim dividend in November of 2023. If approved by the Ordinary General Meeting, the remaining gross dividend of EUR 0.60 will be paid on May 31, 2024, against coupon #36 (ex-date: May 29, 2024; record date: May 30, 2024).

Share composition (in%)

Shareholders have an obligation to report the percentage of EVS shares they hold when this percentage crosses the threshold of 3% in either direction (a condition imposed by the articles of association) and for any multiple of 5% (a requirement of the Companies Code).

The percentage of shares held must be calculated based on the number of shares outstanding (14,327,024 shares at end 2023).

As at December 31, 2023, the shareholding of EVS Broadcast Equipment was as shown in the chart below (based on recent statements received by the company and the treasury shares position as at December 31, 2023).

For more shareholding details please refer to the Statement of Corporate Governance in the second part of the annual report.

EVS holds its Ordinary General Meeting on the third Tuesday of May. Shareholders are invited to participate in this meeting. All instructions are published one month before the meeting.

To promote interaction between the company and its shareholders — and to know and serve them better — further to Article 24 of its articles of association, EVS requires proxies for participation in its General Meetings to be signed by the actual ultimate beneficial owner.

Proxies issued by a custodian or sub-custodian must therefore be accompanied by another power of attorney duly signed by the actual ultimate beneficial owner granting authorization to exercise their rights. In the interest of good governance, this provision is strictly applied and at each meeting results in a few non-compliant discharges of proxies, including those from stakeholders.

Dividends are payable at ING BANK SA, which is the sole paying agent in the Euroclear Belgium “E.S.E.S.” dematerialized system.

ING BANK SA
Avenue Marnix, 24
1000 Brussels
Belgium

The group website (www.evs.com) provides general information on the company and its products, as well as financial information, corporate governance rules and annual reports.

A special investor relations section provides dynamic views on our financial results and our sustainability data. It also contains stock related and dividend information.

All legal documents are available at the company’s head office or on its website.

EVS has adopted a “quiet period” policy, which limits communication with investors during sensitive periods to basic, historic and non-time-specific information. This quiet period begins one month before the publication of the earnings and continues until the earnings release date.

EVS appreciates the interest of its shareholders in the company, and believes that this policy enables the company to balance the needs of the business and the importance of communicating with both new and potential investors.