BENGALURU: Hindi newspaper ‘Hindustan’, Hindi socio cultural magazine ‘Kadambini’ and children’s Hindi magazine ‘Nandan’ publishers Hindustan Media Ventures Limited (HMVL - not to be confused with HT Media Limited of Hindustan Times, Mint and Fever FM fame) reported a 18.7 per cent growth in consolidated total income from operations (TIO) in Q2-2015 to Rs 211.6 crore from Rs 178.2 crore in Q2-2014, but was 4.9 per cent lower than the Rs 222.6 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. The company reported TIO for HY-2015 at Rs 401.2 crore which was 14.1 per cent more than the Rs 351.6 crore in HY-2014.
Note: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 Lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore.
(2) All the figures in this report are consolidated unless stated otherwise.
Let us look at the other Q2-2015 and HY-2015 figures reported by HMVL.
HMVL’s PAT in the current quarter at Rs 31.5 crore (14.9 per cent of TIO) was 26.5 per cent more than the Rs 24.9 crore (14 per cent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter and 7.1 per cent lower than the Rs 33.9 crore (15.2 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015. The company’s PAT in HY-2015 at Rs 65.3 crore (16.3 per cent of TIO) was 18.3 per cent more than the Rs 55.2 (15.7 per cent of TIO) in HY-2014.
The company’s total expenditure (TE) in Q2-2015 was up 18.2 per cent at Rs 160.04 crore (75.8 per cent of TIO) versus Rs 135.7 crore (76.2 per cent of TIO) in Q2-2014 and 4.1 per cent lower than the Rs 167.2 crore (76.2 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015. For HY-2015, HMVL has reported 18.6 per cent higher TE at Rs 327.6 crore (81.7 per cent of TIO) versus Rs 276.3 crore (78.6 per cent of TIO) in HY-2014.
A major component of HMVL’s TE is cost of raw materials (RM). In Q2-2015, HMVL’s RM cost at Rs 84.8 crore (54.9 per cent of TE) was 201.1 per cent more than the Rs 70.6 crore (52 per cent of TE) in Q2-2014 and 2.3 per cent less than the Rs 86.8 crore (51.9 per cent of TE) in Q1-2015. HY-2015 RM cost at Rs 171.6 crore (52.4 per cent of TE) was 23.4 per cent more than the Rs 139.1 crore (50.3 per cent of TE) in HY-2014.
The company’s employee cost in Q2-2015 at Rs 25.8 crore (16.1 per cent of TE) was 19.4 per cent more than the Rs 21.6 crore (15.9 per cent of TE) in Q2-2014. Its HY-2015 employee cost at Rs 55.4 crore (16.9 per cent of TE) was 28.8 per cent more than the Rs 43 crore (15.6 per cent of TE) in HY-2014.
HMVL attributes the increase in its EBIDTA in Q2-2015 versus Q2-2014 to increase in advertising and circulation revenues. According to the company, it had a 12 per cent increase in advertising revenues to Rs. 142.2 crore from Rs. 127 crore primarily due to increase in advertising yields and volumes and also had a 11 per cent increase in circulation revenues to Rs. 49.6 crore.
HMVL chairperson Shobna Bhartia said, “We are glad to report yet another quarter of sustained growth in revenue and profits. The company has registered steady revenue growth and coped with the challenge posed by rising input costs.
Growth in both advertising and circulation revenue was driven by our strong performance in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and continuing dominance in Bihar and Jharkhand. With a strong brand, growing readership, and a healthy balance sheet we are confident of continuing to deliver value to our shareholders.”
