ITV

Tag: Q4

  • Thomas Cook India posts consolidated income growth of 46% to Rs 3,573 mn

    Thomas Cook India posts consolidated income growth of 46% to Rs 3,573 mn

    Mumbai: India’s leading omnichannel travel services, Thomas Cook announced its financial results for the quarter ended 31 March 2022 reflecting a strong rebound with sustained improvement in profitability despite the third wave of Covid-19 (reducing the effective quarter to 45 days), growing geopolitical concerns and a highly delayed restart of India’s scheduled commercial flights.

    TCIL has reported consolidated operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Ebitda) of Rs 239 million, a 19 per cent growth over Rs 201 million in Q3 FY22 against a previously reported loss of Rs 361 million in Q4 FY21. The consolidated income from operations for the quarter grew by 46 per cent from Rs 3,573 million for Q4 FY21 to Rs 5,221 million in Q4 FY22. The cash and bank balances of the company at a consolidated level as on 31 March 2022 are at Rs 6,399 million. The company continued its focus on cost prudence with reduced costs for Q4 FY22 at Rs 2,754 million, registering 37 percent saving at pre-pandemic levels in Q4 FY20.

    According to the reports, TCIL standalone operating Ebitda of Rs 28 million against a loss of Rs 74 million in Q3 FY22 was led by strong sales recovery by Forex 56 percent and business travel 50 percent. The trend continued in April 2022 with foreign exchange, corporate travel and domestic holidays registering a recovery of 62 percent, 81 percent and 85 percent of pre-pandemic sales respectively.

    TCIL income from operations for the quarter grew by 25 per cent from Rs 636 million in Q4 FY21 to Rs 794 million. The margins for the holiday business & foreign exchange grew by 326 bps and 29 bps, respectively.

    The company continued its focus on cost prudence with reduced costs for Q4 FY22 at Rs 767 million, registering a 51 per cent saving from pre-pandemic levels of Q4 FY20.

    The company’s sustained focus on technology delivered end-to-end digitization across its businesses, including B2C and B2B self-booking/servicing tools and dynamic customization, vendor management and automated accounting/payment solutions. The digital acceleration serves to further augment the company’s omnichannel model towards an enriched customer experience, cost and efficiency benefits.

    Thomas Cook’s managing director Madhavan Menon said, “Despite the Omicron wave reducing the quarter to 45 days and the reopening of Indian skies for scheduled international flights only on 27 March, our teams have delivered a commendable performance this quarter with an operating Ebitda of Rs 239 million. The group’s strong performance was led by foreign exchange, business travel, sterling holidays, DEI & desert Adventures. With other markets opening up, we expect the other group companies to stage quick recoveries too.”

    “Our focus on sustainable cost management balanced with a thrust on technology over the past three years is delivering results in the form of speed, productivity and improved customer experience. Recovery is accelerating continually, with our foreign exchange, corporate travel and domestic holidays businesses registering an estimated sales recovery of 57 percent, 81 percent and 99 percent of pre-pandemic levels as of the end of May 2022 and strong pipelines for the coming quarter and beyond,” Menon added.

  • Netflix adds 8.8 million paid subs in Q4; stock falls as spending weighs on profits

    Netflix adds 8.8 million paid subs in Q4; stock falls as spending weighs on profits

    MUMBAI: Netflix in its Q4 earnings beat Wall Street expectation in terms of international subscriber growth but the same in its domestic market remains tepid. For the quarter, the online video platform reported 1.5 million domestic subscriber addition and 7.3 million new subscribers internationally.

    Netflix posted mixed result in terms of revenue also. The company beat Wall Street estimates on earnings per share (EPS) but fell a bit short on the total revenue. It posted EPS of 30 cents versus 24 cents consensus estimate. On the other hand, against Wall Street's estimation of 4.21 billion revenue, the online video player reported $4.187 billion in revenue.

    As a result, Netflix stock fell 4.31 per cent thanks to slower domestic subscriber addition and revenue growth. The most closely watched stock gave the hope of bigger boom among investors. Notably, the copman beat its own projection in terms of subscriber addition. On the back of new 8.8 million global paid memberships in Q4, the subscriber addition went up to 29 million paid subscribers for the full year of 2018. It is clearly 33 per cent higher if compared to 22 million paid subscribers addition in 2017.

    “We added a record 8.8 million paid memberships (1.5 million in the US and 7.3 million internationally), higher than our beginning-of-quarter expectation for 7.6 million paid net adds and up 33 per cent year over year. For the full year, paid net adds grew 33 per cent to 29 million versus the 22 million we added in 2017,” the company commented in a letter to shareholders.

    Few days ago, Netflix announced its increase in US prices for the first time since 2017. The hike in subscription rate will be applied also to subscribers in Latin American and the Caribbean, where Netflix bills in US dollars. The most popular subscription plan will see the largest hike costing $13 a month, up from $11. Wall Street showed high enthusiasm by sending the stock shooting skyward after the announcement.

    “We change pricing from time to time as we continue investing in great entertainment and improving the overall Netflix experience. We want to ensure that Netflix is a good value for the money and that our entry price is affordable. We just increased our US prices for new members, as we did in Q4 in Canada and Argentina, and in Japan in Q3. The new pricing in the US will be phased in for existing members over Q1 and Q2, which we anticipate will lift ASP,” the company added in the letter.

    Apart from its well-known and critically acclaimed shows, Netflix is expanding its film market also. As claimed by the company, its films drew bigger attention in the last quarter. Netflix has also mentioned the relevance of international productions again as good ones enjoy viewership both inside and outside the country. “We’re making significant investments in productions all over the world because we have seen that great stories transcend borders,” the OTT platform commented.

    For the first quarter of 2019, Netflix forecasts global paid net additions of 8.9 million, with 1.6 million in the US and 7.3 million internationally. The revenue forecast for Q1 19 represents 21 per cent year over year growth.

    Next year is going to be a tough one for Netflix as its rivals like Disney, AT&T, NBC Universal, Apple are gearing up for their own online services. Given the strength of Disney’s scale, AT&T’s reach, anyone can assume the intensity of the challenge.

    “There are thousands of competitors in this highly-fragmented market vying to entertain consumers and low barriers to entry for those with great experiences. Our growth is based on how good our experience is, compared to all the other screen time experiences from which consumers choose. Our focus is not on Disney+, Amazon or others, but on how we can improve our experience for our members,” Netflix said.

  • FY-2016: Reliance Retail revenue grows 23%

    BENGALURU: The Mukesh D Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) organized retail segment – Reliance Retail,  continued its growth momentum and profitability in the quarter and financial year ended 31 March 2106 (Q4-2016, current quarter, FY-2016, current year)

    Reliance chairman and managing director, Mukesh D. Ambani said, “Reliance Retail continued its path of profitable expansion while maintaining a robust revenue growth of 23 per cent during the year. Looking ahead, we are focused on ensuring a flawless start- up and stabilization of the new growth platforms across our hydrocarbon and consumer businesses. The commercial roll-out of our Jio services this year will digitally enable a billion Indians and propel growth for India and Reliance.”

    Reliance Retail added 624 stores across various store concepts translating into a store opening rate of 12 stores per week denoting the accelerated store opening program which the business has implemented during the year. As on 31st March 2016, Reliance Retail operated 3,245 stores across 532 cities.

    RIL’s organized retail segment reported 22.5 percent growth in revenue at Rs 21,612 crore in FY-2016 as compared to Rs 17,640 crore in FY-2015. The segment reported 21.3 per cent growth in operating result at Rs 508 crore as compared to Rs 417 crore in the previous year. 

    In Q4-2016, the segment reported 20.7 per cent  year-on-year (YoY) growth in revenue at Rs 5,781 crore as compared to Rs 4,788 crore, but a 4.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) decline as compared to Rs 6,042 crore in Q3-2016. The segment operating profit for the current quarter at Rs 131 crore was 26 per cent higher YoY than the Rs104 crore, but 10.9 per cent lower QoQ as compared to Rs147 crore.

    RIL numbers

    RIL achieved a consolidated turnover of Rs 296,091 crore for FY-2016, a decrease of 23.8 per cent, as compared to Rs 388,494 crore in the previous year. The company says that the decline in turnover reflects sharp fall in feedstock and product prices during the year, partially offset by record crude throughput and higher petrochemicals volumes. Profit after tax was higher by 17.2 per cent at Rs 27,630 crore (9.3 per cent margin) as against Rs 23,566 crore (6.1 per cent margin) in the previous year.

    For Q4-2016, RIL achieved a turnover of Rs 64,569 crore, a decrease of 8.9 per cent, as compared to Rs 70,863 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. Profit after tax including exceptional items was higher by 15.9 per cent at Rs 7,398 crore (11.5 per cent margin) as against Rs 6,381 crore (9 per cent margin) in the corresponding period of the previous year.

    Reliance Jio updates for Q4-2016

    RJIL successfully launched full scale service offerings for the RIL group employees, partners, vendors and associates on a trial basis on 28 December 2015. The company says that over half a million users have been onboarded on the network. The initial feedback is very encouraging and has established smooth operations of all aspects of the network. All the digital applications have also been tested extensively as part of the employee launch program. The average monthly consumption per user is in excess of 18GB within the first month of service and is increasing rapidly. Average voice usage is

    over 250 minutes within the first month. The launch is now being expanded to others in the ecosystem. This test program will be progressively upgraded into commercial operations in coming months.

    RJIL is also creating a multi-terabit capacity international network. RJIL recently announced the launch of a new, state-of-the-art 8,100 km cable system, the Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG). BBG provides direct connectivity to South East Asia and the Middle East, then onward to Europe, Africa and Far East Asia through seamless interconnection with existing cable systems. RJIL owns and operates the strategically important undersea cable landing facility in Chennai, providing a highspeed, high-capacity, low latency route connecting India to the rest of the world. During the quarter, RJIL has issued and allotted 1,500 crore equity shares of Rs 10 each, at par, to Reliance Industries Limited, its holding company.

    In January 2016, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL) and Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) signed agreements for Change in Spectrum Allotment in 800 MHz band across 9 Circles from RCOM to RJIL and for sharing of spectrum in 800 MHz band across 17 Circles. As part of the strategic collaboration, both companies also intend to enter into reciprocal Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) arrangements.

  • FY-2016: Reliance Retail revenue grows 23%

    BENGALURU: The Mukesh D Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) organized retail segment – Reliance Retail,  continued its growth momentum and profitability in the quarter and financial year ended 31 March 2106 (Q4-2016, current quarter, FY-2016, current year)

    Reliance chairman and managing director, Mukesh D. Ambani said, “Reliance Retail continued its path of profitable expansion while maintaining a robust revenue growth of 23 per cent during the year. Looking ahead, we are focused on ensuring a flawless start- up and stabilization of the new growth platforms across our hydrocarbon and consumer businesses. The commercial roll-out of our Jio services this year will digitally enable a billion Indians and propel growth for India and Reliance.”

    Reliance Retail added 624 stores across various store concepts translating into a store opening rate of 12 stores per week denoting the accelerated store opening program which the business has implemented during the year. As on 31st March 2016, Reliance Retail operated 3,245 stores across 532 cities.

    RIL’s organized retail segment reported 22.5 percent growth in revenue at Rs 21,612 crore in FY-2016 as compared to Rs 17,640 crore in FY-2015. The segment reported 21.3 per cent growth in operating result at Rs 508 crore as compared to Rs 417 crore in the previous year. 

    In Q4-2016, the segment reported 20.7 per cent  year-on-year (YoY) growth in revenue at Rs 5,781 crore as compared to Rs 4,788 crore, but a 4.2 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) decline as compared to Rs 6,042 crore in Q3-2016. The segment operating profit for the current quarter at Rs 131 crore was 26 per cent higher YoY than the Rs104 crore, but 10.9 per cent lower QoQ as compared to Rs147 crore.

    RIL numbers

    RIL achieved a consolidated turnover of Rs 296,091 crore for FY-2016, a decrease of 23.8 per cent, as compared to Rs 388,494 crore in the previous year. The company says that the decline in turnover reflects sharp fall in feedstock and product prices during the year, partially offset by record crude throughput and higher petrochemicals volumes. Profit after tax was higher by 17.2 per cent at Rs 27,630 crore (9.3 per cent margin) as against Rs 23,566 crore (6.1 per cent margin) in the previous year.

    For Q4-2016, RIL achieved a turnover of Rs 64,569 crore, a decrease of 8.9 per cent, as compared to Rs 70,863 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. Profit after tax including exceptional items was higher by 15.9 per cent at Rs 7,398 crore (11.5 per cent margin) as against Rs 6,381 crore (9 per cent margin) in the corresponding period of the previous year.

    Reliance Jio updates for Q4-2016

    RJIL successfully launched full scale service offerings for the RIL group employees, partners, vendors and associates on a trial basis on 28 December 2015. The company says that over half a million users have been onboarded on the network. The initial feedback is very encouraging and has established smooth operations of all aspects of the network. All the digital applications have also been tested extensively as part of the employee launch program. The average monthly consumption per user is in excess of 18GB within the first month of service and is increasing rapidly. Average voice usage is

    over 250 minutes within the first month. The launch is now being expanded to others in the ecosystem. This test program will be progressively upgraded into commercial operations in coming months.

    RJIL is also creating a multi-terabit capacity international network. RJIL recently announced the launch of a new, state-of-the-art 8,100 km cable system, the Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG). BBG provides direct connectivity to South East Asia and the Middle East, then onward to Europe, Africa and Far East Asia through seamless interconnection with existing cable systems. RJIL owns and operates the strategically important undersea cable landing facility in Chennai, providing a highspeed, high-capacity, low latency route connecting India to the rest of the world. During the quarter, RJIL has issued and allotted 1,500 crore equity shares of Rs 10 each, at par, to Reliance Industries Limited, its holding company.

    In January 2016, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL) and Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) signed agreements for Change in Spectrum Allotment in 800 MHz band across 9 Circles from RCOM to RJIL and for sharing of spectrum in 800 MHz band across 17 Circles. As part of the strategic collaboration, both companies also intend to enter into reciprocal Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) arrangements.

  • Q4-2015: Verizon reports 5.8 million Fios video connections

    Q4-2015: Verizon reports 5.8 million Fios video connections

    BENGALURU: US communications major Verizon, Inc., reported 5.8 million subscribers for its Fios wireline video services for the quarter and year ended 31 December, 2015 (Q4-2015, current quarter, FY-2015, current year). The company reported an increase of 20,000 net Fios wireline video services subscribers in the quarter. Verizon also added 99,000 new Fios internet wireline connections in Q4-2015 taking the total to seven million.

     

    The company says that Fios wireline internet connections increased 6.8 per cent YoY and Fios video connections increased 3.2 per cent YoY. For FY-2015, more than 70 per cent of consumer Fios internet customers subscribed to data speeds of 50 megabits per second or higher. Verizon says that customer interest continued to grow for Custom TV, which represented about one-third of Fios video sales in Q4- 2015.

     

    The company says that Q4-2015 wireline consumer revenues were $4.1 billion, an increase of 2.6 per cent compared with Q4- 2014. Fios revenues represented 80.4 per cent of the total. Comparing Q4-2015 with Q4-2014, total Fios revenues grew 6.8 per cent, to $3.5 billion, and consumer Fios revenues grew 6.6 per cent. Wireline operating income margin was 7.3 per cent in Q4- 2015, up from 4.4 per cent in Q4- 2014. Segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 24.2 per cent in Q4-2015, compared with 23.9 per cent in the corresponding quarter of last year.

     

    “In 2015, Verizon delivered strong and balanced results in a dynamic competitive environment while returning more than $13.5 billion to shareholders. At the same time, Verizon built and acquired next-generation network capabilities that position the company to be an innovator in the digital-first mobile world in 2016 and beyond,” said Verizon chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam.

     

    Overall revenues in Q4-2015 were $34.3 billion, a 3.2 per cent increase compared with Q4-2014. For the full year, Verizon reported total consolidated revenues of $131.6 billion. FY-2015 revenues grew 3.6 per cent, compared with FY-2014. Current-quarter and third-quarter revenues include results from AOL. New revenue streams from IoT grew, with revenues of approximately $200 million in Q4- 2015 and about $690 million for FY-2015. This is a year-over-year increase of 18 per cent, says the company.

     

    Verizon’s other segment, wireless, reported total revenues of $23.7 billion in Q4-2015, up 1.2 per cent compared with Q4-2014. Service revenues totalled $17.2 billion, down 5.6 per cent year over year. Over the same period, equipment revenues increased to $5.4 billion, up from $4.2 billion, as more customers chose to buy new devices with instalment pricing. For the year, total revenues were $91.7 billion, a 4.6 per cent increase compared with 2014.

                   

    Verizon Wireless reported 1.5 million retail postpaid net additions in Q4- 2015 and 4.5 million for the full year. These net additions do not include any wholesale or IoT connections.

     

    The company says that customer retention remained high, with retail postpaid churn at a low 0.96 per cent in Q4-2015, a year-over-year improvement of 18 basis points. Churn was also 0.96 per cent for the year, an improvement of 8 basis points from full-year 2014.

     

    Verizon added 906,000 4G smartphones to its postpaid customer base in Q4-2015. Postpaid phone net adds totalled 449,000 as net smartphone adds of 713,000 were partially offset by a net decline of basic phones. Tablet net adds totalled 960,000 in the quarter, and net prepaid devices declined by 157,000. At year-end 2015, the company had 112.1 million retail connections, a 3.6 per cent year-over-year increase, and 106.5 million retail postpaid connections, a 4.4 per cent year-over-year increase.

  • Q4-2015: Verizon reports 5.8 million Fios video connections

    Q4-2015: Verizon reports 5.8 million Fios video connections

    BENGALURU: US communications major Verizon, Inc., reported 5.8 million subscribers for its Fios wireline video services for the quarter and year ended 31 December, 2015 (Q4-2015, current quarter, FY-2015, current year). The company reported an increase of 20,000 net Fios wireline video services subscribers in the quarter. Verizon also added 99,000 new Fios internet wireline connections in Q4-2015 taking the total to seven million.

     

    The company says that Fios wireline internet connections increased 6.8 per cent YoY and Fios video connections increased 3.2 per cent YoY. For FY-2015, more than 70 per cent of consumer Fios internet customers subscribed to data speeds of 50 megabits per second or higher. Verizon says that customer interest continued to grow for Custom TV, which represented about one-third of Fios video sales in Q4- 2015.

     

    The company says that Q4-2015 wireline consumer revenues were $4.1 billion, an increase of 2.6 per cent compared with Q4- 2014. Fios revenues represented 80.4 per cent of the total. Comparing Q4-2015 with Q4-2014, total Fios revenues grew 6.8 per cent, to $3.5 billion, and consumer Fios revenues grew 6.6 per cent. Wireline operating income margin was 7.3 per cent in Q4- 2015, up from 4.4 per cent in Q4- 2014. Segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP) was 24.2 per cent in Q4-2015, compared with 23.9 per cent in the corresponding quarter of last year.

     

    “In 2015, Verizon delivered strong and balanced results in a dynamic competitive environment while returning more than $13.5 billion to shareholders. At the same time, Verizon built and acquired next-generation network capabilities that position the company to be an innovator in the digital-first mobile world in 2016 and beyond,” said Verizon chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam.

     

    Overall revenues in Q4-2015 were $34.3 billion, a 3.2 per cent increase compared with Q4-2014. For the full year, Verizon reported total consolidated revenues of $131.6 billion. FY-2015 revenues grew 3.6 per cent, compared with FY-2014. Current-quarter and third-quarter revenues include results from AOL. New revenue streams from IoT grew, with revenues of approximately $200 million in Q4- 2015 and about $690 million for FY-2015. This is a year-over-year increase of 18 per cent, says the company.

     

    Verizon’s other segment, wireless, reported total revenues of $23.7 billion in Q4-2015, up 1.2 per cent compared with Q4-2014. Service revenues totalled $17.2 billion, down 5.6 per cent year over year. Over the same period, equipment revenues increased to $5.4 billion, up from $4.2 billion, as more customers chose to buy new devices with instalment pricing. For the year, total revenues were $91.7 billion, a 4.6 per cent increase compared with 2014.

                   

    Verizon Wireless reported 1.5 million retail postpaid net additions in Q4- 2015 and 4.5 million for the full year. These net additions do not include any wholesale or IoT connections.

     

    The company says that customer retention remained high, with retail postpaid churn at a low 0.96 per cent in Q4-2015, a year-over-year improvement of 18 basis points. Churn was also 0.96 per cent for the year, an improvement of 8 basis points from full-year 2014.

     

    Verizon added 906,000 4G smartphones to its postpaid customer base in Q4-2015. Postpaid phone net adds totalled 449,000 as net smartphone adds of 713,000 were partially offset by a net decline of basic phones. Tablet net adds totalled 960,000 in the quarter, and net prepaid devices declined by 157,000. At year-end 2015, the company had 112.1 million retail connections, a 3.6 per cent year-over-year increase, and 106.5 million retail postpaid connections, a 4.4 per cent year-over-year increase.

  • GlaxoSmithKline healthcare Q2-2014 marketing spend down 24 per cent q-o-q

    GlaxoSmithKline healthcare Q2-2014 marketing spend down 24 per cent q-o-q

    BENGALURU: Nutritional products and OTC drug major GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Limited (GCHL) spent 23.9 per cent less towards advertising and sales promotion (ASP) in the quarter ended 30 June 2014 (Q2-2014) at Rs 141.40 crore (14.6 per cent of Total income from operations or TIO) versus Rs 185.75 crore (16.6 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014 and just 2.8 per cent more than the Rs 137.56 crore (15.5 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2013.

    The company’s nutritional product brands include Horlicks, Boost, Foodles , while its OTC drugs brands include Crocin, Eno and Iodex.

    Notes: (1) GCHL’s follows the calendar year and its fiscal ends on 31 December, hence quarter ended31 March is Q1, quarter ended 30 June is Q2, quarter ended 30 September is Q3 and quarter ended 31 December is Q4.

    (2) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore.

    GCHL’s TIO in Q2-2014 at Rs 965.97 crore was 13.7 per cent less than the Rs 1119.82 crore in Q1-2014 and 8.5 per cent more y-o-y than the Rs 890.30 crore in Q2-2013. The company’s TIO shows an upward trend over a nine month period commencing Q2-2012 and ending with the current fiscal Q2-2014.

    In terms of actual rupees spent, the company’s ASP shows a slightly upward simple linear trend, while in terms of percentage of TIO, ASP seems to have flattened out. The simple average ASP across the nine quarters under consideration is Rs 148.42 crore, which means that the current quarter’s ASP is 7.9 per cent below par when compared to the average of the nine quarters under consideration in this report. Please refer to Fig 1 below.

    GCHL’s PAT in terms of absolute rupee value shows an upward simple linear trend, while in terms of percentage of TIO, the linear trend is flat, tapering downwards slightly, a fact that could easily change with a slightly higher than average PAT  in percentage of TIO terms in the next few quarters. The company’s simple average PAT across the nine quarters under consideration is 13.4 per cent of TIO.

    GCHL reported PAT of Rs 130.12 crore (13.5 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2104, 24.2 per cent lower than the Rs 171.71 crore(15.3 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2014 and 8.5 per cent more than the Rs 119.96 crore (13.5 per cent of TIO)  reported in the year ago quarter Q2-2013.

    GCHL’s analyst presentation says that its domestic sales have grown 10 per cent despite an extremely challenging environment. It has witnessed a 24 per cent drop in export sales due to certain one-offs and slowdown in Bangladesh. Overall, domestic growth can be attributed to a 3 per cent growth in volume and 7 per cent due to increase in pricing.

    Strong innovation led re-launches of sub-brands – Mother’s Horlicks, Horlicks Lite and Chocolate Horlicks were re-launched during the quarter. GCHL says that it ran new impactful campaigns on Mother’s Horlicks and Chocolate Horlicks, and has added focus on digital marketing during the current quarter.

    Click here to read the financial report

    Click here to read the unaudited financial report

  • BBC retains title as #1 choice for Asia Pacific’s premium audience

    BBC retains title as #1 choice for Asia Pacific’s premium audience

    MUMBAI: The BBC’s international news offering has cemented its leadership position amongst Asia Pacific’s high income earners. The Ipsos Affluent Survey Asia Pacific for Q3 and Q4 2013 reveals that the BBC’s cross-platform news brand, which includes 24 hour global news channel BBC World News, and bbc.com, which offers up-to-the minute international news and in-depth analysis, is the top choice for premium audiences for the fourth year running.  The survey shows that the BBC has extended its lead over its competitors in the past 12 months.  It also reveals that BBC World News is most effective for reaching the top tier of earners as it has more viewers from this much-coveted demographic than any other news channel.

     

    The new research also shows that the BBC has reinforced its reputation as the most trustworthy and insightful news brand in Asia, and that it is recognised for offering the highest quality journalism of any news channel or print title.

     

    Jim Egan, CEO of BBC Global News Ltd, says, “In the past 18 months we have implemented an ambitious strategy to bring our international news operations together into an integrated offer for global audiences. These latest results show that our strategy is yielding rewards and that our target audience has welcomed the increased investment across TV, online and mobile, together with our ongoing commitment to providing the most comprehensive news and current affairs content for the Asia Pacific market.”

     

    He added, “In terms of overall reach we’ve made great gains within our competitive set but, even more importantly, these figures show that we are way ahead in terms of the coveted premium audience.  As the leader in global breaking news, with bureaux across the region, we welcome the confirmation that the BBC remains the brand of choice for discerning audiences looking for a trusted and truly global perspective on the world’s most important stories.”

     

    The popularity of BBC World News is further reflected in the finding that, for the first time, it is the most popular channel for frequent business travellers watching from their hotel rooms.

     

    The survey also reveals that mobile has played an important role in the recent results.  It shows that the BBC was the number one news brand across apps and mobile for premium audiences.  These IASAP findings support a recent BBC World News and bbc.com global mobile study into the usage of mobile devices by affluent consumers which emphasises the growing trend for news consumption on mobile platforms.

     

    The IASAP study surveys pan-regional and local media consumption and product consumption among affluent adults and business professionals in main cities in the Asia Pacific region. The latest survey covers Q3-Q4 2013.

     

    Source: Ipsos Affluent Survey Asia Pacific, Q3-Q4 2013, Q1-Q4 2012, Q1-Q4 2011, Q1-Q4 2010. Based on monthly reach % to one-decimal point unless otherwise specified. Cross-platform news brand/total brand reach: TV/website/mobile reach.  Premium audience/high income earners: personal monthly income US $10K+ (N=405; projected universe of 232,600).  Frequent business travellers: taken international business trips 3+/6+ last year (N=941/339; projected universe of 618,312/183,679). 

  • Q4-2014: Raj TV board recommends 5 per cent final dividend for FY-2014

    Q4-2014: Raj TV board recommends 5 per cent final dividend for FY-2014

    Updated: 03:58 PM

     

    BENGALURU: The shareholders of Raj Television Network (Raj TV) have further reason to cheer. The board has recommended a final dividend of 5 per cent or Rs 0.25 per equity share of face value of Rs 5 each, in addition to the earlier interim dividend of 5 per cent or Rs 0.50 per equity share on the earlier face value of Rs 10 before the split and issue of bonus shares during FY-2014. The company had issued bonus shares in the ratio of 1:1 after the earlier interim dividend in FY-2014.

     

    Raj TV reported a 17.68 per cent higher Income from Operations (Op Inc) in FY-2014 at Rs 79.47 crore as compared to the Rs 67.53 crore in FY-2013. However, Op Inc in Q4-2014 was (-28.13) per cent lower at Rs 17.91 crore than the Rs 24.92 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q3-2014, and was 2.52 per cent more than the Rs17.47 crore of the year ago quarter Q4-2013.

     

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

     

    Note: (2) The results in this report are standalone.

     

     Let us look at the other results reported by Raj TV for FY-2014 and Q4-2014

     

    PAT in FY-2014 at Rs12.91 crore (16.25 per cent of Op Inc) was 39.05 per cent higher than the PAT of Rs 9.29 crore (13.75 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. In Q4-2014, PAT at Rs1.01 crore (5.62 per cent of Op Inc) was a little more than a fifth or (-79.82) per cent lower than the Rs 4.98 crore (20.01 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014, but almost double (88.91 per cent more than) the Rs 0.53 crore (3.05 per cent of Op Inc) of Q4-2013.

     

    Raj TV’s Total Expense (Tot Exp) in FY-2014 at Rs 59.97 crore was 9.55 per cent more than the Rs 54.74 crore in FY-2014. Tot Exp in Q4-2014 at Rs15.45 crore was (-16.85) per cent lower than the Rs18.58 crore in Q3-2014 and 1.54 per cent more than the Rs15.22 crore in Q4-2013.

     

    Employee Benefits Expense (EBE) and Administrative and other Expenses (Admin exp) are two major expense heads at Raj TV. While EBE in Q4-2014 was substantially higher y-o-y despite almost similar Op Inc, Admin Exp in Q4-2014 was very high q-o-q, despite Raj TV’s Op Inc being much higher in Q3-2014 as compared to Q4-2014.

     

    Employee Benefits Expense in FY-2014 at Rs 17.60 crore (22.15 per cent of Op Inc) was 50.78 per cent more than the Rs11.68 crore (17.29 per cent of Op Inc) in FY-2013. EBE in Q4-2014 at Rs 4.74 crore (26.47 per cent of Op Inc) was (-31.1) per cent lower than the Rs 6.88 crore (27.61 per cent of Op Inc) and 41.02 per cent more than the Rs 3.36 crore (19.24 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    Administrative and other expense in FY-2014 at Rs 14.69 crore (18.48 per cent of Op Inc) was 32.46 per cent more than the Rs11.09 crore (16.42 per cent of Op Inc). During Q4-2014, Admin exp at Rs 4.41 crore (24.6 per cent of Op Inc) was 40.67 per cent more than the Rs 3.13 crore (12.57 per cent of Op Inc) in Q3-2014 and 2.2 per cent more than the Rs 4.31 crore (24.68 per cent of Op Inc) in Q4-2013.

     

    Raj TV has reported a 76.1 per cent increase in Long Term Borrowings (non-current liabilities) in FY-2014 at Rs 12.49 crore as compared to the Rs 7.05 crore in FY-2013. Also, in its current liabilities the company has reported a 3.52 times increase in short term borrowings in FY-2014 at Rs 24.97 crore as compared to the Rs 7.09 crore in FY-2013. The company’s trade receivables in FY-2014 at Rs 58.27 crore has gone up by 36.15 per cent as compared to the Rs 42.8 crore in FY-2013.

     

    Raj TV’s Fixed Assets in FY-2014 has gone up by 77.60 per cent to Rs113.99 crore as compared to the Rs 64.18 crore in FY-2013. Its inventories in FY-2014 have gone up by almost 6 times (5.76 times) to Rs 11.65 crore from Rs 2.02 crore in FY-2013. Its trades payables has gone down in FY-2014 to Rs 2.63 crore from Rs 3.48 crore in FY-2013.

     

    The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of Rs 9.43 per equity share in FY-2014 and Rs 0.19 in Q4-2014. 

  • Mahindra Holidays Sales & Mktg spends during Q4-2014 Rs 52.53 crore

    Mahindra Holidays Sales & Mktg spends during Q4-2014 Rs 52.53 crore

    BENGALURU: Mahindra Holidays & Resorts (India) Limited (Mahindra Holidays) spent Rs 52.5268 crore (24.03 per cent of Total Income or Tot Inc) towards Marketing and Sales Promotion (S & M) during Q4-2014, which was 1.47 per cent more than the Rs 51.77 crore (27.33 per cent of Tot Inc) during the immediate trailing quarter Q3-2014 and 5.75 per cent more than the Rs 49.67 crore (24.77 per cent of Tot Inc).  The company has the brand Club Mahindra.

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

    Mahindra Holidays S & M spends during FY-2014 at Rs 191.50 crore (24.63 per cent of Tot Inc) was 4.22 per cent more than the Rs 183.74 crore (26.19 per cent of Tot Inc). Over a nine quarter period starting Q1-2012 to Q4-2014, Mahindra Holidays S & M average ad spends has been 25.83 per cent of Tot Inc. While in terms of rupees spent, S & M spends show a slight upward linear trend during these nine quarters, in terms of percentage of Tot Inc, the linear trend is downwards. Similarly, over a three year period starting FY-2012 until FY-2014, the trend in absolute rupee terms has been upward, while in terms of percentage of Tot Inc, the trend is downward. Please refer to Fig 1 and Fig 1A below.

    The company reported a PAT of Rs 24.39 crore (11.15 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q4-2014, which was 20.09 per cent more than the Rs 20.31 crore (10.72 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q3-2014, but (-21.15) per cent less than the Rs 30.93 crore (15.42 per cent of Tot Inc) in Q4-2013. In FY-2014, Mahindra Holidays PAT at Rs 94.53 crore (12.16 per cent of Tot Inc) was (-11.63) per cent less than the Rs 106.98 crore (15.25 per cent of Tot Inc) in FY-2013.

    Mahindra Holidays Tot Inc in Q4-2014 at Rs218.62 crore was 15.4 per cent more than the Rs 189.44 crore in Q3-2014 and 9.02 per cent more than the Rs 200.54 crore in Q4-2013. In FY-2014, the company’s Tot Inc at Rs 777.52 crore was 10.83 per cent more than the Rs 701.55 crore in FY-2013. Please refer to Fig 2 and 2A below.

    The company says that it follows a two-pronged strategy – It provides a variety in holidaying options by rapidly increasing unique location footprint and attempts to enhance service levels and delight the customer at every touch point.

    Mahindra Holidays chairman Arun Nanda said, “I am happy to share that the month of March 2014 recorded the highest ever membership sale in the history of the company. We see this as the beginning of the next phase of growth for the company. However a lot remains to be done in the area of cost rationalization and productivity enhancements.”