Tag: DB Corp Limited

  • Q3-2016: DB Corp print revenue up 22%, radio revenue up 35%; radio op profit almost double

    Q3-2016: DB Corp print revenue up 22%, radio revenue up 35%; radio op profit almost double

    BENGALURU: DB Corp Limited (DB Corp), home to flagship newspapers Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Dainik Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar reported 22.5 per cent QoQ increase in Total Income from operations (TIO) for the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter). The company reported TIO of Rs 585.89 crore in the current quarter as compared to Rs 478.33 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. YoY, TIO increased 5.7 per cent as compared to Rs 554.57 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Revenue growth was driven by a 21.9 per cent QoQ growth in revenue from the company’s print segment at Rs 539.28 crore as compared to Rs 442.24 crore and a 34.9 per cent QoQ growth in the company’s radio segment revenue at Rs 32.32 crore (5.5 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 23.96 crore (five per cent of TIO). YoY, revenue from print segment increased 3.9 per cent as compared to Rs 518.9 crore, while radio segment revenue increased 25.8 per cent as compared to Rs 25.69 crore (4.6 per cent of TIO).

     

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

     

    Operating Results/PAT

     

    The company reports revenue from five segments:  Printing and publishing of newspaper and periodicals (Printing segment); Radio segment (under the brand My FM); Events; Internet; and power. Two of the segments are major contributors to the revenue – printing and radio and their numbers have been considered in this report.

     

    The company reported 80.7 per cent QoQ growth in profit after tax (PAT) for the current quarter at Rs 108.63 crore (18.2 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 59.12 crore (12.4 per cent margin) and grew 1.6 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 105.11 crore (19 per cent margin).

     

    The company’s print business reported 73.5 per cent QoQ increase in operating profit at Rs 162.91 crore as compared to Rs 93.91 crore and increased 3.3 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 157.76 crore.

     

    Radio business reported almost double the operating profit (grew by 98.7 per cent) QoQ at Rs 12 crore as compared to Rs 6.04 crore and increased 27.1 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 9.44 crore.

     

    Advertisement and subscription revenue

     

    The company says that its advertising revenue declined 0.6 per cent YoY to Rs 391.2 crore in the current quarter as compared to Rs 393.4 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year, but increased 27 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 307.9 crore. Circulation revenue increased 17.8 per cent in YOY in Q3-2016 to Rs 114.1 crore as compared to the Rs 96.9 crore and grew eight per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 105.7 crore.

     

    DB Corp managing director Sudhir Agarwal said, “The success of our yield strategy has begun delivering encouraging results as we make aggressive efforts to gain back volume growth across our legacy and emerging markets, which have started responding well. We have taken every step to maintain our leadership position and we continue to be the largest circulated newspaper since last three years while we are the fourth largest circulated newspaper in the world – a great honour and responsibility for us. Our focus on stronger operating efficiencies and better expense management has ensured our financial health while softened newsprint costs have also protected our profitability.

    Our non-print businesses are well on course as our digital business continues to gather momentum and our radio business strategy maintains commendable progress as we prepare to commence operations of the newly acquired stations over four to six months. The government is in the midst of introducing structural reforms with a long term vision and we believe that present green shoots will translate into a positive pick up for a better economic environment.”

  • Q3-2016: DB Corp print revenue up 22%, radio revenue up 35%; radio op profit almost double

    Q3-2016: DB Corp print revenue up 22%, radio revenue up 35%; radio op profit almost double

    BENGALURU: DB Corp Limited (DB Corp), home to flagship newspapers Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Dainik Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar reported 22.5 per cent QoQ increase in Total Income from operations (TIO) for the quarter ended 31 December, 2015 (Q3-2016, current quarter). The company reported TIO of Rs 585.89 crore in the current quarter as compared to Rs 478.33 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. YoY, TIO increased 5.7 per cent as compared to Rs 554.57 crore in Q3-2015.

     

    Revenue growth was driven by a 21.9 per cent QoQ growth in revenue from the company’s print segment at Rs 539.28 crore as compared to Rs 442.24 crore and a 34.9 per cent QoQ growth in the company’s radio segment revenue at Rs 32.32 crore (5.5 per cent of TIO) as compared to Rs 23.96 crore (five per cent of TIO). YoY, revenue from print segment increased 3.9 per cent as compared to Rs 518.9 crore, while radio segment revenue increased 25.8 per cent as compared to Rs 25.69 crore (4.6 per cent of TIO).

     

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

     

    Operating Results/PAT

     

    The company reports revenue from five segments:  Printing and publishing of newspaper and periodicals (Printing segment); Radio segment (under the brand My FM); Events; Internet; and power. Two of the segments are major contributors to the revenue – printing and radio and their numbers have been considered in this report.

     

    The company reported 80.7 per cent QoQ growth in profit after tax (PAT) for the current quarter at Rs 108.63 crore (18.2 per cent margin) as compared to Rs 59.12 crore (12.4 per cent margin) and grew 1.6 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 105.11 crore (19 per cent margin).

     

    The company’s print business reported 73.5 per cent QoQ increase in operating profit at Rs 162.91 crore as compared to Rs 93.91 crore and increased 3.3 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 157.76 crore.

     

    Radio business reported almost double the operating profit (grew by 98.7 per cent) QoQ at Rs 12 crore as compared to Rs 6.04 crore and increased 27.1 per cent YoY as compared to Rs 9.44 crore.

     

    Advertisement and subscription revenue

     

    The company says that its advertising revenue declined 0.6 per cent YoY to Rs 391.2 crore in the current quarter as compared to Rs 393.4 crore in the corresponding quarter of last year, but increased 27 per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 307.9 crore. Circulation revenue increased 17.8 per cent in YOY in Q3-2016 to Rs 114.1 crore as compared to the Rs 96.9 crore and grew eight per cent QoQ as compared to Rs 105.7 crore.

     

    DB Corp managing director Sudhir Agarwal said, “The success of our yield strategy has begun delivering encouraging results as we make aggressive efforts to gain back volume growth across our legacy and emerging markets, which have started responding well. We have taken every step to maintain our leadership position and we continue to be the largest circulated newspaper since last three years while we are the fourth largest circulated newspaper in the world – a great honour and responsibility for us. Our focus on stronger operating efficiencies and better expense management has ensured our financial health while softened newsprint costs have also protected our profitability.

    Our non-print businesses are well on course as our digital business continues to gather momentum and our radio business strategy maintains commendable progress as we prepare to commence operations of the newly acquired stations over four to six months. The government is in the midst of introducing structural reforms with a long term vision and we believe that present green shoots will translate into a positive pick up for a better economic environment.”

  • Q1-2016: DB Corp y-o-y revenue down 3.2%; My FM revenue up 3.7%

    Q1-2016: DB Corp y-o-y revenue down 3.2%; My FM revenue up 3.7%

    BENGALURU: DB Corp Limited (DB Corp), home to flagship newspapers Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Dainik Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar, reported a 3.2 per cent fall in Total Income from Operations (TIO) to Rs 473.36 crore in the quarter ended 31 June, 2015 (Q1-2016, current quarter) from Rs 489.20 crore in Q1-2015 and 2.5 per cent fall from the Rs 485.60 crore in Q4-2015 on the back of lower advertising revenue.

     

    The company’s radio segment under the brand My FM reported a 3.7 per cent growth in operating revenue to Rs 21.50 crore (4.5 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2016 from Rs 20.73 crore (4.2 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015, but 19.4 per cent lower than the Rs 26.68 crore (4.2 per cent of TIO) in the immediate trailing quarter. Operating results from the company’s radio segment dropped sharply and have been mentioned later in this report.

     

    Note: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 Lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore

    (2) The figures mentioned in this report are consolidated figures unless stated otherwise.

     

    Advertising and Circulation revenue

    The company says that print advertising revenues declined by eight per cent in Q1-2016 to Rs 342.30 crore as against Rs 373 crore, due to base effect of election revenue in Q1-2015 along with focus on high yield growth. Ad revenue in Q1-2016 was 7.3 per cent more than the Rs 319.10 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Circulation revenue increased by 16 per cent in the current quarter to Rs 102.20 crore from Rs 88.50 crore primarily due to yield driven growth says the company. Circulation revenue increased 21.8 per cent as compared to the Rs 83.9 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Company speak

     

    DB Corp managing director Sudhir Agarwal said, “Through this quarter, we continued our efforts to consolidate our positions across our all markets with a key focus on continuing to implement our strategy of yield increase, which was undertaken last quarter with an aim to monetize better yield growth, as we progress towards achieving our ambitious long term growth plans and goals. We took some important strategic steps to strengthen the foundations of our business over the last few years which continue to hold us in good stead and Bhaskar is working fiercely in an environment that continues to demand aggressive marketing efforts across all regions with our presence. In an environment that continues to be challenging, we are confident of our current strategies and business fundamentals that are directed towards enterprise growth while ensuring that we continue to operate efficiently and in a calibrated manner for the future. Our operating efficiencies continue to be validated while we also continue to benefit from softened newsprint prices. Several market expansion initiatives are underway and we look forward to completing our Bihar foray within the next few month. As the government continues with its efforts and initiatives to boost economic growth, we remain confident of our operating strengths and highly differentiated business approach that positions us very well to capitalize on better opportunities, as we move ahead.”

     

    Let us look at the other results reported by DB Corp 

     

    DB Corp reported 16 per cent lower PAT (Profit after Tax) at Rs 66.46 crore in Q1-2016 as compared to the PAT of Rs 79.13 crore in Q1-2015 and 3.8 per cent more than the PAT of Rs 64 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    The company’s total expenditure (TE) in Q1-2016 at Rs 373.20 crore was 0.7 per cent lower than the Rs 374.99 crore in Q1-2015 and 4.7 per cent lower than the Rs 390.74 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Raw material consumption (RMC) in Q1-2016 at Rs 144.74 crore was 12.7 per cent lower than the Rs 165.88 crore in Q1-2015 and was 4.6 per cent lower than the Rs 151.7 crore Q4-2015. 

     

    Segment Revenue 

     

    The company reports revenue from five segments: Printing and publishing of newspaper and periodicals (Printing segment); Radio segment; Events; Internet; and power. Two of the segments are major contributors to the revenue – printing and radio and numbers have been considered here.

     

    Printing segment revenue at Rs 440.19 crore in Q1-2016 was 4.5 per cent lower than the Rs 461.07 crore in corresponding quarter of the previous year and was 1.8 per cent lower than the Rs 448.41 crore in Q4-2015.

     

    Printing segment reported operating result of Rs 108.56 crore in Q1-20165, which was eight per cent lower than the Rs 117.95 crore in Q1-2015 but was 3.3 per cent lower than the Rs 112.21 crore in the immediate trailing quarter.

     

    The company’s radio segment (My FM) revenue has been mentioned above. My FM reported a 22.5 per cent drop in operating profit to Rs 4.08 crore in Q1-2016 as compared to the Rs 5.27 crore in Q1-2015 and a massive 59 per cent lower (less than half) than the Rs 9.95 crore in Q4-2015.

  • DB Corp higher PAT on higher print, radio, and digital media ad revenue, business adjustments in FY-2014

    DB Corp higher PAT on higher print, radio, and digital media ad revenue, business adjustments in FY-2014

    BENGALURU: DB Corp Limited (DB Corp), home to flagship newspapers Dainik Bhaskar, Divya Bhaskar, Dainik Divya Marathi and Saurashtra Samachar reported improved results in Q4-2014 and its board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 4.25 per share for FY-2014.

     

    Note: (1) Rs 100 lakh = Rs100,00,000 = Rs 1 crore = Rs 10 million.

     

    The company reported a higher PAT at Rs 306.6 crore in FY-2014 as compared to the Rs 218.1 crore in FY-2013, which includes a onetime tax gain of Rs 14.9 crore, on account of demerger of digital media business.

     

    The company says that its FY-2014 consolidated advertising revenue grew by 17.4 per cent to Rs 1417.8 crore as against Rs1270.5 crore is FY-2013. The company says further that its radio business ad revenue grew by 19.2 per cent to Rs 80.1 crore from Rs 67.2 crore in FY-2013 and that its digital media ad revenue grew by about 54 per cent to Rs16.3 crore in Fy-2014 from Rs10.8 crore in FY-2013.

     

    Let us look at the figures for FY-2014 and Q4-2014 reported by DB Corp

     

    DB Corp’s Total Operating Income (Op Inc) in FY-2014 at Rs1895.76 crore was 16.8 per cent more than the Rs 1592.32 crore in FY-2013. Q4-2014 Op Inc at Rs 454.17 crore was (-12.36) per cent lower than the Rs 518.20 crore in Q3-2014 and 14.08 per cent more than the Rs 398.10 crore in the last year quarter Q4-2013.

     

    Total Expense (Tot Exp) in FY-2014 at Rs 1423.72 crore was 11.94 per cent more than the Rs 1271.91 crore in FY-2013. In Q4-2014, Tot Exp at Rs 366.02 crore was (-3.48) per cent lower than the Rs 379.21 crore in Q3-2014 and 14.67 per cent more than the Rs 319.19 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    Raw Material consumption (RM cost) forms a major portion of DB Corp’s expense (Between 33 and 37 per cent of Tot Inc). In FY-2014, DB Corp’s RM cost at Rs 632.95 crore (34.03 per cent of Op Inc) was 16.4 per cent more than the Rs 544.54 crore (34.20 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. RM cost in Q4-2014 at Rs 166.59 crore (36.68 per cent of Op Inc) was (-3.37) per cent lower than the Rs 172.41 crore (33.27 per cent of Op Inc) in the immediate trailing quarter Q3-2014 and 24.57 per cent more than the Rs133.74 crore (33.57 per cent of Op Inc) in the corresponding quarter of last year.

     

    PAT in FY-2014 at Rs 306.64 crore (16.49 per cent of Op Inc) was 40.58 per cent more than the Rs 218.14 crore (13.7 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. In Q4-2014, PAT at Rs 7.59 crore (1.67 per cent of Op Inc) was 1.67 per cent more than the Rs 9.45 crore (1.82 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014 and (-86.26) per cent less than the Rs 55.26 crore (13.88 per cent of PAT) in Q4-2013.

     

    Segment Results

     

    Printing and Publishing of Newspaper and Periodicals segment

     

    Printing and Publishing of Newspaper and Periodicals (Printing) segment contributes more than 94 per cent to DB Corp’s total revenue. During FY-2014, Printing segment revenue of Rs 1762.16 crore (94.75 per cent of Op Inc) was 17.02 per cent more than the Rs 1505.86 crore (94.57 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. Printing segment revenue in Q4-2014 at Rs 421.21 crore (94.28 per cent of Op Inc) was (-12.37) per cent lower than the Rs 488.63 crore in Q3-2014 and 13.87 per cent more than the Rs 376.06 crore (94.46 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    DB Corp’s Printing segment results in FY-2014 at Rs 458.9 crore was 32.63 per cent more than the Rs 345.97 crore in FY-2013. The company’s Q4-2014 result at Rs 95.5 crore was (-32.38) per cent less than the Rs 488.63 crore in Q3-2014 and 2.35 per cent more than the Rs 93.31 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    Radio Business segment

     

    DB Corp’s radio segment reported revenue of Rs 79.45 crore (4.27 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2014 was 19.2 per cent more than the Rs 66.65 crore (4.19 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. This segment’s Op Inc in Q4-2014 at Rs 21.37 crore (4.99 per cent of Op Inc) was (-10.28) per cent lower than the Rs 23.83 crore (4.88 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014 and 17 per cent more than the Rs18.27 crore (4.59 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    This segment returned a positive result of Rs 20.56 crore in FY-2014 which was 89.18 per cent more than the Rs 10.87 crore in FY-2013. In Q4-2014, DB Corp’s radio business reported a result of Rs 7.19 crore which was (-15.47) per cent less than the Rs 8.51 crore in Q3-2014 and 75.73 per cent more than the Rs 4.09 crore in Q4-2014.

     

    The other segments –events, internet and power have reported very low numbers and have eroded the profits generated by DB Corp’s Printing and Radio business segments.

     

    DB Corp managing director Sudhir Agarwal, said, We have delivered a robust operating performance this year amidst a challenging market environment. Our focus on sustaining and extending leadership in core markets, consistent focus on operational efficiencies as well as strong performance across non-print segments have enabled us to report significant growth.

     

    The Bhaskar way of journalism places the reader at the center. Our growth strategy revolves around this philosophy and as we have successfully done in the past – we have ensured that our strategies combine ‘knowledge enhancement’ for the reader and ‘product differentiation’ towards growth. Therefore, our earlier associations with leading media brands for exclusive, unique content have started delivering exciting results. This quarter, we re-aligned our corporate sales and marketing strategy supported by key senior management appointments – with the aim of providing greater focus to advertisers at every state level. Our Un-Metro – Markets Driving India initiative extensively analysed the potential of high-growth non-metro regions with inspiring participation by marketing stalwarts across Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi, have also contributed significantly towards broadening our horizons. Our Bihar-Patna launch was an exciting challenge in that region and we are encouraged by an overwhelming response and wide acceptance; while our progress in Maharashtra continues well on course.

     

    DBCL’s non-print media segments have been making strong headway as we report commendable

     

    developments across our digital and radio properties. We have been leveraging our leadership strengths in print media – extending our editorial excellence and deep readership insights to make steady progress across digital and radio platforms. We are excited with the potential of post Phase 3 licensing and are well poised to strengthen our radio footprint.

     

    While the macro outlook does remain undefined, we are hopeful that, as we move towards political

     

    certainty, the consumer sentiment will become more positive and result in better growth across sectors. I am confident that with our clear strategic focus, strong business fundamentals, superior execution capabilities supported by a talented team, we will strive towards our vision to be the largest and most admired media brand as well as active socio-economic change agents.”