The Planeta group continues to grow, especially in its training division, which joins the other two pillars of activity: the publishing business and the media. The company recorded sales of 1.8 billion euros in 2022, 6% more than the previous year, when they stood at 1.7 billion euros. It was in 2021 when the conglomerate left the pandemic behind and recovered 2019 figures, results that improved in 2022. "The group today has much greater economic and financial solidity," emphasizes its president, José Creuheras.
In addition to increasing turnover, EBITDA has reached 350 million euros, up 15%. The debt of the company owned by the Lara family has remained at 250 million euros, after decreasing it by 50% in 2021. It consists of 150 million in bank debt and 100 million in bonds. Creuheras explains that they have managed to diversify financing sources after the private debt issuance of 100 million euros with the American insurer Prudential, an operation that has also served to ratify the solidity of the business giant.
After the death this summer of one of the founder's daughters, Maribel Lara Bosch, Creuheras emphasizes that the shareholding balance among the different members of the owning family is maintained. José Manuel Lara Hernández's daughter owned 24% of the capital.
With a global workforce of 12,500 employees, the division with the most weight within the group is the media, consisting of Antena 3, LaSexta, Onda Cero, Europa FM, and La Razón. They represent almost 50% of the total turnover. The publishing business, Planeta's origin, accounts for 26% while the training arm continues to grow and now represents 23%. This last business area is present in different countries in Europe, Africa, and Latin America, with a portfolio of 120,000 students and 6,000 teachers.
At the beginning of this year, Planeta acquired the Bromera group, one of the main Valencian publishing companies, with a turnover of 7.5 million euros and a workforce of 60 employees. The Barcelona-based company acquired 60% of the ownership. With this latest acquisition, the group has more than 70 publishing imprints present in Spain and Latin America, publishing in Castilian, Catalan, and Portuguese. The publisher releases about 4,500 new works each year.
In addition to the acquisition of Bromera, the group has added three new Casa del Libro establishments throughout 2023, a year in which it celebrated the centenary of the first bookstore opened under this brand, located on Gran Via in Madrid. A fourth location will be incorporated in what remains of the year, which will be in Alicante. According to Creuheras, three new stores are expected to open next year, bringing the total to 60.
More than 1,100 manuscripts
One day before knowing the winner of the 72nd edition of the Planeta Prize, the publishing house has revealed some details of the ten finalist works. After last year the historical novel by Luz Gabás, Lejos de Luisiana, triumphed, this year crime novel predominates. Female characters also do, in line with the 2022 finalist, Cristina Campos, who focused on infidelity in Historias de mujeres casadas. "The Planeta Prize is the thermometer of literary tastes," defends Juan Eslava, one of the jury members.
The award, the best endowed in the world with 1 million euros for the winner and 200,000 euros for the finalist, has once again set a new participation record this year, with the reception of a total of 1,129 manuscripts. They represent almost 500 more than a year ago, a growth that has been favored by the possibility of submitting originals by email for the first time. Since the creation of the award in 1952, more than 27,000 copies have been received and 45 million copies of the winning and finalist books have been sold. In the last year alone, 600,000 copies of Gabás and Campos have been sold.