Category: Financials

  • Airtel DTH biz Q4-2015 revenue up 17%, segment reports Rs 8 crore operating profit

    Airtel DTH biz Q4-2015 revenue up 17%, segment reports Rs 8 crore operating profit

    BENGALURU: Bharati Airtel’s Digital TV services – Airtel DTH – reported 17.2 per cent increase in y-o-y revenue to Rs 634.7 crore in Q4-2015 from Rs 541.5 crore and 1.8 per cent growth as compared to the Rs 623.4 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The segment reported an operating profit of Rs 8.1 crore for the current quarter as compared to an operating loss of Rs 110.7 crore in Q4-2014 and an operating loss of Rs 36 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    Airtel DTH revenue in FY-2015 grew 19.2 per cent to Rs 2475.9 crore as compared to the Rs 2077.1 crore in FY-2014. Operating loss was lower at Rs 158.1 crore in the current year as compared to the Rs 427.1 crore in FTY-2014.

     

    The company reported 2.7 per cent q-o-q growth in Airtel DTH customer base for Q4-2015 to 100.73 lakh from 98.1 lakh in Q3-2015. For the year, the segment reported 11.8 per cent growth in customer base from 90.12 lakh in FY-2014.

     

    Airtel MD and CEO, India & South Asia Gopal Vittal said, “The year has ended on a healthy note, with revenue growth accelerating to 12.1 per cent in FY 2014-15, from 9.9 per cent and 9.5 per cent respectively in the previous two years. Once again, the 20,000 – strong Airtel family has stood together to deliver these results. Airtel is spearheading the country’s digital agenda with substantial investments in the Internet space. The cumulative investment of Rs 68,000 crore in spectrum is a reflection of our commitment to the cause of a Digital India, and our belief in the potential of the exciting opportunity.”

     

    Overall, Airtel’s consolidated revenues for Q4-2015 at Rs 23,016 crore grew by 3.6 per cent over the corresponding quarter last year. Improved operational efficiency has resulted in consolidated net income growing by 30.5 per cent y-o-y to Rs 1,255 crore says the company.

     

    Annual consolidated revenues at Rs 92,039 crore grew by 7.3 per cent over the previous year, led by robust top line growth in India. Airtel informs that net income for the year grew by 86.9 per cent to Rs 5,183 crore despite higher forex losses of Rs 2,153 crore (FY-2014 forex loss – Rs 1,242 crore).

  • FY-2015: Hinduja Ventures reports 13% growth in standalone profit

    FY-2015: Hinduja Ventures reports 13% growth in standalone profit

    BENGALURU: Hinduja Ventures Limited (HVL), the holding company of IndusInd Media & Communications Limited (IMCL) reported a 12.9 per cent growth in standalone net profit after tax (PAT) to Rs 92.59 crore in FY-2015 as compared to a PAT of Rs 82.03 crore in FY-2014. 

     

    The company reported total standalone income of Rs 110.45 crore for the current year ended as against Rs 106.54 crores in FY-2014.

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    HVL consolidated total income for the year ended was Rs 786.11 crore as compared to Rs 773.49 crore for the same period in the previous year. Consolidated total income grew by 1.63 per cent y-o-y. Consolidated net profit after tax and minority interest has increased for the year ended 31 March, 2015 from 0.21 crore to 18.25 crore. EBIDTA for the year end stood at Rs 146.75 crore as against Rs 144.11 crore in the previous year.

     

    Its media segment reported a 15 per cent drop in revenue in FY-2015 to Rs 536.16 crore as compared to the Rs 638.84 crore in the previous year. The loss from this segment widened to Rs 239.71 crore in FY-2015 from Rs 197.33 crore in the previous year.

     

    During the year, IMCL, has disposed its investment in one of its subsidiary company – Jagsumi Perspectives Pvt. Ltd. and the said company has ceased to be a subsidiary of the company effective 31 December, 2014. IMCL booked a loss of Rs 6.2 crore in the said transaction and the same is disclosed under exceptional item in the Consolidated Profit and Loss Statement.

     

    During the year, the company entered into a business Transfer Agreement with a Bangalore  based company viz. Mplex Networks Private Limited (Mplex), to acquire their Digitally Addressable Cable Television Network (CATV) rights pertaining to Bangalore and Mysore region together with certain fixed assets pertaining to CATV division for an overall consideration of Rs 35 crore.

  • Dolby declares improved q-o-q results for Q2-2015

    Dolby declares improved q-o-q results for Q2-2015

    BENGALURU:  Audio equipment maker Dolby Laboratories Inc (Dolby) reported a 16 per cent quarter on quarter (q-o-q) growth in revenue for the quarter ended 27 March, 2015 (Q2-2015, current quarter) to US$ 271.95 million as compared to the US$ 234.24 million reported for the immediate trailing quarter. However, y-o-y, revenue fell 2 per cent from the US$ 278.59 million reported for Q2-2015. The company says that total revenue for Q2-2014 included a back payment settlement of US$ 24.7 million, which did not repeat in Q2- 2015.

     

    “We had another solid quarter driven by growth in our broadcast business,” said Dolby Laboratories president and CEO Kevin Yeaman. “In addition, we saw significant progress with our new initiatives as AMC Theatres and Disney announced their support for Dolby Cinema and Vizio announced the first Dolby Vision TV.”

     

    Revenue

     

    Three streams add to the company’s revenue – Licensing, products and services, with licensing contributing the lion’s share. Q-o-q licensing revenue increased 4 per cent to US$ 243.33 million in Q2-2015 as compared to the US$ 216.6 million in Q1-2015, but was 6 percent less than the US$ 258.62 million reported for Q2-2015.

     

    A major chunk of licensing revenue comes from broadcast licensing (42 per cent in Q2-2015, 41 per cent in Q1-2015 and 46 per cent in Q2-2014). PC licensing, Consumer Electronics licensing, mobile licensing and other licensing are the other contributors to licensing revenue. Mobile licensing in Q2-2014 contributed just 11 per cent to licensing revenue, as compared to 16 per cent in the previous quarter and the corresponding year ago quarter.

     

    Products revenue for Q2-2015 was US$ 22.99 million, for Q1-2015 it was US$ 13.26 million and for Q2-2014 it was 14.56 million. Services revenue for Q2-2015 was US$ 5.63 million, for Q1-2015, it was US$ 4.38 million and for Q2-2014, it was US$ 5.41 million.

     

    Income

     

    Q2-2015 GAAP net income was US$ 58.0 million, or US$ 0.56 per diluted share, compared to US$ 75.9 million, or US$ 0.73 per diluted share, for Q2-2014. On a non-GAAP basis, Q2-2015 net income was US$ 74.9 million, or US$ 0.72 per diluted share, compared to US$ 91.7 million, or US$ 0.88 per diluted share, for Q2-2014.

     

    Dividend

     

    Dolby today announced a cash dividend of US$ 0.10 per share of Class A and Class B common stock, payable on May 12, 2015, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 4, 2015.

     

    Company forecast

     

    For Q3-2015, Dolby estimates that total revenue will range from US$230 million to US$240 million. Gross margin percentages are projected to range between approximately 89 percent and 90 percent on a GAAP basis and between 90 percent and 91 percent on a non-GAAP basis.

     

    For FY-2015, Dolby anticipates that total revenue will range from US$ 970 million to US$ 1 billion.

     

  • Omnicom’s net income up 2% at $209 million in Q1 2015

    Omnicom’s net income up 2% at $209 million in Q1 2015

    MUMBAI: The world’s second largest advertising company Omnicom Group Inc reported a meagre two per cent rise in net income for the first quarter of 2015 despite seeing a decline in revenue. The company’s net income rose from $205.5 million (or 77 cents per share) to $209.1 million (or 82 cents per share).

     

    Omnicom’s worldwide revenue in the first quarter of 2015 decreased one per cent to $3,469.2 million from $3,502.2 million in the first quarter of 2014.

     

    Domestic revenue for the first quarter of 2015 increased 4.6 per cent to $1,958.2 million compared to $1,871.8 million in the first quarter of 2014. International revenue decreased 7.3 per cent to $1,511.0 million compared to $1,630.4 million in the first quarter of 2014.

     

    For the quarter ended 31 March, 2015, organic growth increased revenue 5.1 per cent, acquisitions, net of dispositions increased revenue 0.4 per cent, while the impact of foreign exchange rates decreased revenue 6.4 per cent when compared to the first quarter of 2014.  

     

    Across regional markets, organic revenue in the first quarter of 2015 increased 4.8 per cent in North America, 9.3 per cent in the United Kingdom, 2.7 per cent in the Euro Markets and Other Europe, 6.7 per cent in Asia Pacific, 3.4 per cent in Latin America and 10.6 per cent in Africa/Middle East, when compared to the same quarter of 2014. 

     

    The change in organic revenue in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to the first quarter of 2014 in our four fundamental disciplines was as follows: advertising increased 7.7 per cent, CRM increased 2.6 per cent, public relations increased 3.1 per cent and specialty communications increased 2.6 per cent.

     

    For the first quarter of 2015, Omnicom’s earnings before interest, taxes and amortization of intangibles (EBITA), a non-GAAP financial measure, decreased $2.1 million, or 0.5 per cent, to $405 million from $407.1 million in the first quarter of 2014. The company’s EBITA margin increased to 11.7 per cent for the first quarter of 2015 versus 11.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2014.

     

    Operating income in the first quarter of 2015 decreased $5 million, or 1.3 per cent, to $377.7 million from $382.7 million in the first quarter of 2014. Operating margin in the first quarter of 2015 of 10.9 per cent was unchanged when compared to the first quarter of 2014.

  • Publicis Groupe’s revenue up 32% at €2.1 million in Q1 2015

    Publicis Groupe’s revenue up 32% at €2.1 million in Q1 2015

    MUMBAI: Advertising major Publicis Groupe reported a 31.7 per cent jump in first-quarter sales as a result of the positive impact of exchange rates, and partly due to its latest digital acquisition of Sapient.

     

    The agency’s first-quarter sales rose to €2.1 billion from €1.6 billion in the same period last year as the group benefited from the strong dollar and pound sterling compared with the euro.

     

    Acquisitions contributed €274 million or 17.2 per cent of revenue.

     

    Growth Forecast

     

    The company’s organic growth stood at +0.9 per cent. Though global economic growth has seen contrasting trends since the start of the year, Publicis achieved growth notably as a result of its strong presence in digital, which has become its main activity. Digital activities progressed by +4.7 per cent and now account for 50.2 per cent of total revenue. Healthcare also performed well. 

     

    North America revenue grew by 45 per cent to €1.15 billion, followed by Europe with an increase of 21.3 per cent to €575 million. BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and MISSAT (Mexico, Indonesia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey) markets rose by 13.2 per cent to €215 million euros. India, specifically, continued on the road to recovery with growth of +5.7 per cent.

     

    The agency said that in December, revenue will grow at two per cent above the industry average each year from 2016, with digital operations rising to 60 per cent of sales in 2018. Publicis predicted that the operating margin will rise to between 17.3 and 19.3 per cent of sales in 2018, compared with 15.3 per cent in 2012.

     

    Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Maurice Levy said, “Our revenue is up to slightly over 30 per cent, partly due to the positive impact of exchange rates, and partly to the inclusion of Sapient since completing the acquisition. As we’ll continue to see, this is one of the important milestones of the Groupe’s transformation. We expected organic growth to be slightly down this quarter, but, on the contrary, it is up almost one per cent. This isn’t yet the growth rate we expect to see out of Publicis Groupe, but is nonetheless an encouraging return to growth.”

     

    “The main event of this early part of the year has been the completion of the Sapient acquisition, an event that gives Publicis Groupe a new strategic dimension while excelling the Groupe’s transformation. The integration process is already underway and the prevailing spirit is excellent,” Levy added.

     

    With the acquisition of Sapient, Publicis Groupe has become the only global group present all along the value chain – from consulting to marketing, from communications to commerce – brought to life through an outstanding expertise in the most high-performing technologies.

     

    Levy is hopeful that the second quarter will be better than the first, albeit with modest growth. Organic growth is expected to be higher in the second half-year. The Groupe expects that its high exposure to digital activities will ensure its future growth and the continued improvement of its margins between now and 2018. 

     

    Publicis Groupe is the third largest global advertising holding company in the world after WPP and Omnicom. 

  • Ortel reports respectable maiden numbers for FY-2015 & Q4-2015

    Ortel reports respectable maiden numbers for FY-2015 & Q4-2015

    BENGALURU: At the time of its IPO earlier in March 2015, Ortel Communications had to withdraw a part of the promoter’s quota to prevent undersubscription. In its maiden financial numbers, Ortel reported fairly respectable numbers for FY-2015 as well as Q4-2015 and hence justified the faith that investors put in it. The company was listed on 19 March, 2015.

     

    For FY-2015, Ortel reported total income from operations (TIO) of Rs 154.79 crore for FY-2015, 20.5 per cent more than the Rs 128.50 crore in the preceding financial year. The company reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 5.65 crore in FY-2015 as compared to a loss of Rs 11.28 crore in FY-2014.

     

    Notes: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

    The numbers mentioned in this report are standalone.

     

    Cable subscription fees in FY-2015 grew four per cent to Rs 79 crore from Rs 75.7 crore in FY-2014, while internet subscription fees grew five per cent to Rs 27 crore from Rs 25.8 crore in FY-2014.

     

    In Q4-2015, the company’s TIO at Rs 44.91 crore was a healthy 34.4 per cent more than the Rs 33.41 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year and 13.9 per cent more than the Rs 39.44 crore in Q3-2015. The company reported a PAT of Rs 5.65 crore in Q4-2015, as compared to a loss of Rs 1.23 crore in Q4-2014 and more than 20 times (20.64 times) the PAT for Q3-2014 which was reported as Rs 0.27 crore.

     

    Revenue generating units (RGU)

     

    Two main segments add to the company’s numbers – Cable TV and Broadband, with a big chunk of numbers also being added by unallocated segments.

     

    Ortel reported total RGUs of 530,111 in FY-2015 as compared to 515,835 in FY-2014 and 486,255 in FY-2013. Of these, total cable RGUs in FY-2015 were 471,592, in FY-2014 they were 461,408, and in FY-2013 they were 435,628.

     

    Correspondingly, Broadband RGUs were 58,519 in FY-2015, 54,427 in FY-2014 and 50,627 in FY-2013.

     

     

    Cable TV segment

     

    In FY-2015, Cable TV segment reported 11.5 per cent growth in revenue from Rs 97.35 crores in the previous year to Rs 108.52 crore in FY-2015. Cable TV segment reported 12.1 per cent growth in operating profit to Rs 49.32 crore in FY-2015 from Rs 43.98 crore in FY-2014.

     

    Within this segment, besides subscription fees, cable connection fees grew 161 per cent to Rs 3.1 crore in FY-2015 from Rs 1.2 crore in FY-2014. Channel carriage fees grew 29 per cent in FY-2015 to Rs 26.4 crore from Rs 20.5 crore from FY-2014.

     

    Cable TV reported 9.7 per cent y-o-y growth in revenue to Rs 27.87 crore from Rs 25.41 crore in Q4-2014 and 2.2 per cent growth from Rs 27.27 crore in Q3-2015. The segment reported more than triple the operating profits in Q4-2015 at Rs 11.21 crore as compared to the Rs 3.61 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year and 8.3 per cent more than the Rs 10.36 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Broadband segment

     

    Broadband segment revenue grew 5.2 per cent during the corresponding period to Rs 28.89 crore in FY-2015 from Rs 27.47 crore in FY-2014. Operating profit from Broadband segment grew a healthy 43.3 per cent to Rs 20.89 crore from Rs 14.57 crore in FY-2014. Within this segment, internet connection fees grew 12 per cent in the current year to Rs 1.9 crore from Rs 1.7 crore in FY-2014.

     

    Broadband segment reported revenue of Rs 7.44 crore in Q4-2015, which was 5.9 per cent more than the Rs 7.02 crore in Q4-2014 and 4.5 per cent more than the Rs 7.12 crore in Q3-2015. The segment reported almost eight times (7.61 times) operating result of Rs 7.95 crore in Q4-2015 as compared to the Rs 1.04 crore in Q4-2014 and 68.9 per cent more than the Rs4.71 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Unallocated

     

    Revenue from unallocated segment grew almost four fold (3.73 times) to Rs 17.38 crore in the current year from Rs 3.67 crore in FY-2014. Operating profit credited to unallocated segment grew 3.7 per cent from Rs 3.07 crore in FY-2014 to Rs 3.19 crore in FY-2015.

     

    In Q4-2015, revenue from unallocated revenue grew almost tenfold (9.79 times) to Rs 9.61 crore from Rs 0.98 crore in Q4-2014 and 90.1 per cent more than the Rs 5.06 crore in Q3-2015. Unallocated operating profit grew 4.2 per cent in Q5-2015 to Rs 0.81 crore from Rs 0.78 crore in Q4-2014 and grew 2.8 per cent from Rs 0.79 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Average revenue per user (ARPU)

     

    The company has reported a slight reduction in average revenue per user (ARPU) in all cases when compared to the previous year, except for digital cable. Analog TV ARPU in FY-2014 was 145 per month as compared to Rs 147 in FY-2014 and Rs 136 in FY-2013.

     

    Digital TV ARPU in FY-2015 was Rs 186 as compared to Rs 177 in FY-2014 and Rs 157 in FY-2013.

     

    Retail broadband ARPU stood at Rs 356 in FY-2015 as compared to Rs 373 in both FY-2014 and FY-2013. Corporate broadband ARPU had the highest fall. In FY-2015, corporate broadband ARPU was Rs 2851 as compared to Rs 3487 in FY-2014 and Rs 3998 in FY-2013. Data usage per month has gone up relatively, hence indicating lowering of charges for data – in FY-2015, it was 3143 MB, in FY-2014 it was 3126 MB and in FY-2013 it was 2666 MB.

     

    Ortel President and CEO Bibhu Prasad Rath said, “I am pleased to report that the company delivered healthy performance during the quarter and full year on the back of growth in Revenue Generating Units (RGUs) in Cable and Broadband businesses and robust contribution from Infrastructure Leasing segment. Our EBITDA margins stood strong at 37 per cent in FY-2015 as compared to 31 per cent in FY-2014. We anticipate further improvement in margins going forward as a result of deeper penetration in the Cable business along with our continued focus on the high-margin Broadband segment. Ortel Communications’ Direct-to-Consumer offering with full control over the ‘last mile’ network has enabled us to emerge as a dominant regional player in the cable TV and broadband business. With increasing penetration in our core and emerging markets along with the inorganic LCO (Local Cable Operator) buy out strategy, we believe we are well-positioned to achieve our immediate target of ~1 million RGUs by the end of FY-2017. I am also proud to share that we successfully concluded the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the company by raising Rs 108.6 crore during the quarter. The capital infusion will also enable us to accelerate growth and deliver much stronger financial and operational performance in the coming years.”

     

    Click here to read the investor presentation

  • Reliance Retail reports growth in FY-2015 and Q4-2015

    Reliance Retail reports growth in FY-2015 and Q4-2015

    BENGALURU: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) retail segment – Reliance Retail is a tiny fraction of the revenue that India’s largest private corporate reports. However, this segment has been growing consistently, quarter on quarter.

     

    For FY-2015, the segment reported a revenue growth of 21.2 per cent to Rs 17,640 crore from Rs 14,556 crore in FY-2014. The segment’s earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) more than trebled (increased by 253.4 per cent) to Rs 417 crore in FY-2015 from Rs 118 crore in the previous year.

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    Revenue in Q4-2015 grew 31.1 per cent to Rs 4,788 crore from Rs 3,653 crore in Q4-2014 and grew 2.2 per cent from Rs 4,686 crore in Q3-2015. PBIT in Q4-2015 more than quadrupled (increased by 333.3 per cent) to Rs 104 crore from Rs 24 crore in the year ago quarter, but declined 21.8 per cent from Rs 133 crore in the previous quarter.

     

    RIL claims that it maintained the distinction of being India’s largest retailer. It says further that it consolidated its leadership position in all focus sectors. The company added 930 stores and nine lakh square feet of operating space in the year across the sectors. As on 31 March, 2015, Reliance Retail operated 2,621 stores across 200 cities, with over 1.25 crore square feet space.

     

    The company says that Reliance Retail grew its presence through its partnerships with the likes of Marks & Spencer, Grand Vision and Payless Shoesource, which continued its pace of robust growth. Reliance Brands continued to make more luxury brands available to the Indian consumers by expanding presence through various partner brands.

     

    Overall, though RIL consolidated revenue (turnover) decreased by 33.3 per cent to Rs 70,863 crore in Q4-2015 from Rs 1,06,208 crore in Q4-2014, its consolidated net profit increased by 8.5 per cent to Rs 6,381 crore from Rs 5881 crore in Q4-2014.

     

    RIL achieved a turnover of Rs 3,88,494 crore for FY-2015, a decrease of 13 per cent, as compared to Rs 446,339 crore in the previous year. The company says the decline in turnover reflects sharp fall in crude oil prices during the second half of the year. However, profit after tax was higher by 4.8 per cent at Rs 23,566 crore as against Rs 22,493 crore in the previous year.

     

    Company speak:

     

    RIL chairman and managing director Mukesh D. Ambani said, “FY 2015 has been a very successful and important year for Reliance. In a time when the collapse of crude oil prices unsettled the hydrocarbons markets, our refining business delivered record earnings. The earnings power demonstrated by our hydrocarbon businesses in this environment validates our philosophy of investing in world-scale, cost competitive assets, cutting-edge technology and the talent of people. This year we also made giant strides in our quest to sustain Reliance’s growth momentum with the highest-ever capital investment into our hydrocarbon business and our next-generation digital services initiative. Our organized retail business maintained its high growth trajectory with a wider pan-India footprint. Particularly gratifying, we achieved this, while maintaining our track-record of adhering to highest standards of safety and operational excellence.”

  • Network18, TV18 report growth in revenue & operating profit for FY-2015; Q4-15

    Network18, TV18 report growth in revenue & operating profit for FY-2015; Q4-15

    BENGALURU: Reliance’s profit-making magic seems to be working on its newly acquired baby – Network 18 Media and Investments Limited (Network18). The company reported a 16.1 per cent growth in consolidated operating revenue in FY-2015 to Rs 3126.6 crore from Rs 2692.4 crore in FY-2014. 

     

    For the fourth quarter (Q4-2015), revenue increased 14 per cent to Rs 841.4 crore from Rs 738.3 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter and was up 1.1 per cent as compared to the Rs 831.9 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    Consolidated operating profit before depreciation, interest and tax (PBDIT) was up 92.2 per cent in FY-2015 to Rs 153 crore from Rs 79 crore in FY-2014. Operating PBDIT in Q4-2015 at Rs 69.7 crore was up 71.5 per cent as compared to the Rs 40.6 crore in Q4-2014 and was 3.8 per cent more than the Rs 67.1 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    According to Network18, the company has made a one-time exceptional adjustment of Rs 1045.3 crore and hence reported a loss of Rs 1059.91 crore in FY-2015 as compared to a loss of Rs 36.77 crore in FY-2014. For Q4-2015, the company has reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 10.58 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 4.12 crore in Q4-2014 and a loss of Rs 12.15 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    The improvement in results reported by its subsidiary listed company TV18 Broadcast Limited (TV18) for FY-2015 and Q4-2015 were as good as those reported by Network18.

     

    TV18 reported a 17.8 per cent growth in its income from operations to Rs 2318.4 crore in FY-2015 from Rs 1968.1 crore in FY-2014. Income from operations for TV18 grew 11.8 per cent in Q4-2015 to Rs 629.7 crore as compared to the Rs 563.3 crore in Q4-2014 and was 3.7 per cent higher than the Rs 607.2 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    TV18’s consolidated PBDIT in FY-2015 at Rs 252.5 crore was 19.8 per cent higher than the Rs 210.7 crore reported for the last fiscal. PBDIT for Q4-2015, at Rs 82.6 crore, was 17.7 per cent higher than the Rs 70.2 crore in Q4-2014 and four per cent more than the Rs 79.4 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Onetime adjustments were also made by TV18 to the extent of Rs 233.29 crore in FY-2015, which resulted in the company reporting a loss of Rs 38.47 crore as compared to a PAT of Rs 85.59 crore in FY-2014. However, after share of associate and minority interest, TV18 reported a PAT of Rs 44.54 crore in FY-2015 as compared to a PAT after share of associate and minority interest of Rs 103.63 crore in FY-2014.

     

    In Q3-2015, TV18 reported PAT after share of associate and minority interest of Rs 95.47 crore in Q4-2015 as compared to the Rs 35.91 crore in Q4-2014 and Rs 60.38 crore.

     

    Network18’s media operations segment reported a 16.8 per cent growth in revenue in FY-2015 to Rs 3061.69 crore as compared to the Rs 2620.69 crore in FY-2014. Revenue from this segment in Q4-2015 at Rs 832.63 crore was 15 per cent more than the Rs 723.81 crore in Q4-2014 and 2.8 per cent more than the Rs 810.01 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Network18’s media operations segment reported operating profit of Rs 31.63 crore in FY-2015, which was 43.3 per cent lower than the Rs 55.77 crore in FY-2014. For Q4-2015, this segment reported an operating profit of Rs 58.62 crore, which was 243.4 per cent more than the Rs 24.08 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter and 33.9 per cent more than the Rs 43.79 crore in the previous quarter.

     

    Network18’s other segment – film production and distribution reported half the revenue in FY-2015 at Rs 50.96 crore as compared to the Rs 101.77 crore in FY-2015. For Q4-2015, revenue from this segment was Rs 4.08 crore, for Q4-2014, the segment reported negative revenue of Rs 14.61 crore and for Q3-2015, the revenue stood at Rs 11.99 crore.

     

    Film production and distribution segment reported an operating loss of Rs 6.44 crore in FY-2015 as compared to a much higher operating loss of Rs 24.20 crore in FY-2014. Operating loss of Q4-2015 was lower at Rs 2.44 crore as compared to the operating loss of Rs 4.59 crore in Q4-2014 and an operating profit of Rs 1.33 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    The company upped its programming cost in FY-2015 by 44.6 per cent to Rs 768.39 crore from Rs 531.56 crore in FY-2014. Programming costs in Q4-2015 were significantly higher by 55.4 per cent at Rs 208.01 as compared to the Rs 133.82 crore in Q4-2014 and 2.9 per cent more than the Rs 202.09 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Besides TV18, which contributes to the company’s television operations, Network18 Digital and Network18 Publishing also contribute to Network18 numbers.

     

    Company quote:

     

    Among the major channels that make up Network18’s television operations, the company says that during Q4-2015, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz maintained leadership positions in their respective genre, with market shares of 58 per cent and 60 per cent respectively. CNBC Awaaz marked the completion of 10 years of leadership since inception during this quarter. CNBC Bajar launched in FY-15 to strong positive sentiment from the Gujarati business community, also saw attractive gains in viewership.

     

    CNN-IBN led the English general news category in Q4 FY15 with a 33 per cent market share and increased its viewership by 43 per cent over Q3-2015.

     

    In the GEC segment, Colors was the No. 1 channel on weekends prime time across all four quarters of the year and rose to No. 2 spot on weekday prime time in Q4 FY15, up from No. 3 in Q3 FY15. During Q4 FY15, MTV Indies reach grew 13 per cent over Q3-2015 and Vh1 led the English music and lifestyle genre with a 24 per cent market share, while Nick continued to lead the kids’ genre throughout FY-15.

     

    Notes: Equator Trading Enterprises Private Limited (“Equator”) including its subsidiaries Panorama Television Private Limited and Prism TV Private Limited had become wholly owned subsidiary of the Company with effect from January 22, 2014. Hence, the consolidated results of the current period include the results of these subsidiary companies. Eenadu Television Private Limited had also become an associate with effect from January 22, 2014 and its results have been accounted as “Associate” under Accounting Standard 23 on Accounting for Investments in Associates in Consolidated Financial Statements. To this extent, the results of the current year are not comparable with the corresponding previous year.

     

  • Q3-2015: Tata Global Beverages q-o-q marketing spends up 6.3 per cent

    Q3-2015: Tata Global Beverages q-o-q marketing spends up 6.3 per cent

    BENGALURU: Tata Global Beverages Limited (TGBL) spent Rs 377.06 crore (17.6 per cent of Total Income from Operations or TIO) towards advertising and sales promotion (ASP) during the quarter ended 31 December, 2014 (Q3-2015), which was 6.3 per cent more than the Rs 354.80 crore (17.5 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter, but 5.9 per cent lower than the Rs 400.71 crore (19.3 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2014.

    ASP for the nine month period ended 31 December, 2015 (9M-2015) at Rs 1017.66 crore (18.2 per cent of TIO) was 3.5 per cent lower than the Rs 1054.75 crore (19.7 per cent of TIO) in 9M-2014. TGBL is the unifying entity of the Tata Group’s beverages interests under one umbrella.

    Note: Rs.1 crore = Rs.100 Lakhs = Rs.10 million = Rs.100,00,000

    TGBL’s Q3-2014 ASP was the highest in absolute rupees as well as in terms of percentage of TIO (19.3 per cent) during a 11 quarter period starting Q1-2013 until Q3-2015. During this eleven quarter period, ASP shows an upwards linear trend in absolute rupee spends, while the linear trend in terms of ASP as percentage of TIO is almost flat with a slight upward inclination. (Please refer to Chart A below.)

    During this period, the lowest ASP in absolute rupees was in Q1-2013 at Rs 280.56 crore (16.3 per cent of TIO) and lowest ASP in terms of percentage of TIO was in Q1-2015 at 14.9 per cent (Rs 285.80 crore). The simple average ASP percentage of TIO during the period under consideration is 18.7 per cent.

    For Q3-2015, TGBL reported Profit after Tax (PAT) of Rs 84.94 crore (four per cent of TIO), which was 35.9 per cent more than the Rs 62.45 crore (3.1 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2015, but 29 per cent less than the Rs 119.55 crore (5.7 per cent of TIO) in Q3-2015. For 9M-2015, PAT at Rs 243.92 crore (four per cent of TIO) was 40.7 per cent lower than the Rs 411.21 crore (7.1 per cent of TIO) in 9M-2014. During the eleven quarter period under consideration, PAT was highest both in terms of percentage of TIO as well as in absolute rupees at 9.3 per cent of TIO and Rs 180.03 crore.

    PAT shows a downward linear trend in absolute rupees as well as percentage of TIO during the eleven quarter period in this report. (Please refer to Chart B below.)

    Cart C below shows the company’s TIO, total expenditure (TE), PAT and ASP in HY-13, HY-14 and HY-15; in 9M-13, 9M-14 and 9M-15 and in FY-12, FY-13 and FY-14.

    During Q3-2015, TGBL’s TIO at Rs 2143.89 crore was six per cent more than the Rs 2021.70 crore in Q2-2015 and three per cent more than the Rs 2080.74 crore in Q3-2014. For 9M-2015, TIO at Rs 6078.70 crore was 4.3 per cent more than the Rs 5827.68 crore in 9M-2014.

    TGBL, in its earning release for Q3-2015, says that it continues to strengthen its focus on the green tea category and grow its coffee and water businesses. In India, the company says that it retains market leadership in branded tea and has recorded its highest ever monthly production in December 2014. There is exponential growth in the green tea segment. Tata Global Beverages has a portfolio of green tea brands across consumer segments in India, with Tetley Green Tea and Tata Tea Acti Green.

    TGBL claims that in the water segment, Tata Water Plus- India’s first nutrient water, Tata Gluco Plus, available in five flavours and Himalayan natural mineral water, which recently launched a sparkling variant, are seeing good market response and focusing on expanding reach.

    Tata Starbucks, a joint venture between Tata Global Beverages and Starbucks, now has 65 stores spread across Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad. The stores continue to witness very good customer response. Eight O’ Clock coffee K cups in the USA, are making good progress in the fast growing pods market.

    TGBL managing director and CEO Ajoy Misra said, “We will focus on growing segments such as green tea, specialty teas, functional water and pods while continuing to strengthen our core markets & brands, based on key consumer trends. We remain committed to sustainable growth through innovation and strengthening our brands in key markets, in the face of a challenging market environment and economic volatility in some parts of the world.”

  • Q3-2015: Radio companies y-o-y operating results up 49.7%; YTD up 61.9%

    Q3-2015: Radio companies y-o-y operating results up 49.7%; YTD up 61.9%

    BENGALURU: Q3-2015 has been a great quarter and 9M-2015 even better for the radio industry as is evident from the PAT /Operating results posted for six radio groups representing 90 radio stations or 36.7 per cent of the 245 private FM radio stations universe under phases I and II in India. 

     

    This report considers PAT posted by two radio companies (ENIL – Radio Mirchi, 33 radio stations; Jagran Prakashan – Radio City – 20 radio stations) that equals 53 radio stations or 21.6 per cent of the current total universe in the country and 58.9 per cent of the radio stations considered here. If one were to consider only the operating results of these companies, the operating profitability numbers would be even higher. Also, figures for Radio City are not exact and have been rounded off, as is evident from the figures mentioned by Jagran Prakashan in its various filings with the bourses and investor presentations.

     

    Operating results for radio segments of three of the four other companies – DB Corp (My FM-17 stations), B.A.G Films (Radio Dhamaal, 10 stations) and HT Media (Fever FM, four stations) have shown improvement, with TV Today’s Oye FM (six stations) being only one that has shown income de-growth but has reported a reduction of operating loss from Rs 2.90 crore in Q3-2014 to a lower loss of Rs 1.94 crore in the current quarter.

     

    There is a deviation in this report from normal practise – PAT numbers of the two companies that have indicated them separately have been combined with the operating results of the other four companies here to arrive at the total numbers considered here, which makes this not completely an apples to apples story. 

     

    Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

     

    Total income reported by the six radio groups for Q3-2015 at Rs 233.60 crore was 18.7 per cent more y-o-y as compared to the Rs 196.76 crore. Operating Profit/PAT for Q3-2015 at Rs 67.83 crore was 49.7 per cent more as compared to the Rs 45.30 crore reported for Q3-2014. 

     

    For 9M-2015, income reported by the six groups for radio operations was Rs 631.05 crore, which was 19.2 per cent more than the Rs 529.44 crore in 9M-2014, while Operating Profit/PAT in 9M-2015 at Rs 151.73 crore was 61.9 per cent more than the Rs 93.72 crore reported for last year’s corresponding nine month period.

     

    Q3-2015 and 9M-2015 growth rates of revenue and PAT/results reported by these companies are also definitely better than those reported for FY-2014 (year ended 31 March, 2014) when compared to FY-2013 (year ended 31 March, 2013). For FY-2014, combined revenue reported by the six radio groups was Rs 739.64 crore, which was 12.2 per cent higher than the Rs 659.23 crore in FY-2013. PAT/Operating result for FY-2014 was Rs 154.22 crore, which was 46.3 per cent more than the Rs 105.45 crore in FY-2013. 

     

    It must be pointed out here that the biggest player in terms of revenues as well as performance in this list of six radio players is ENIL or Radio Mirchi. In Q3-2015, ENIL’s revenue of Rs 116.98 crore formed 50.1 per cent of the total revenue of Rs 233.60 reported by all the six listed players in that quarter and its PAT of Rs 32.84 crore is 48.4 per cent of the performance (PAT/Operating profit reported) by the six players.

     

    ENIL’s income and PAT in Q3-2015 were 18.7 per cent higher and 40.9 per cent more than the income and PAT respectively reported by the company for the corresponding year ago quarter, albeit equal to and lower when compared to the six companies revenue and PAT that grew 18.7 per cent  and 49.7 per cent respectively.

     

    For Q3-2015, Radio Dhamaal showed the largest y-o-y revenue growth of 173.8 per cent to Rs 2.43 crore from Rs 0.89 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter while Radio City reported the largest growth in PAT of 147.8 per cent to Rs 17.10 crore in Q3-2015 from Rs 6.90 crore reported in the corresponding year ago quarter. As a matter of fact, Radio Dhamaal has shown a good a turnaround during 9M-2015 with an operating profit of Rs 1.12 crore as compared to a loss of Rs 2.08 crore in 9M-2014. 

     

    The lowest y-o-y growth in revenue was actually de-growth or fall in revenue of 8.5 per cent by Oye FM in Q3-2015 at Rs 4 crore as compared to the Rs 4.37 crore in Q3-2014.