MAM
Synamedia expands executive team with appointment of Sue Couto as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific
MUMBAI: Synamedia, the largest independent video software and solutions company, has appointed pay-TV industry virtuoso Sue Couto as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific, effective immediately. This announcement follows the news that Synamedia is open for business after the completion of Permira funds’ acquisition of Cisco’s video business. With offices in India and China, Synamedia’s portfolio of leading pay-TV and media customers in the region includes Astro, Bharti Airtel, China DTH, Foxtel, Oi and Tata Sky.
Sue joins Synamedia’s executive team to drive growth and expand customer relationships across Asia Pacific. She will have overall responsibility for sales, marketing, partners, and delivery in the region.
Sue brings over 20 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in the TV and broadcast industry in Asia Pacific, most recently as Senior Vice President of APAC Sales for TiVo, where she was responsible for overall sales strategy for software solutions. Prior to this, Sue was Senior Vice President, Video Software Solutions, APJC at Cisco, and at NDS before its acquisition by Cisco. She has built and led the teams which have been instrumental in winning key customers and enabling them to grow their businesses. Many of these players are now amongst the largest DTH platforms in the world.
Yves Padrines, CEO of Synamedia, said, “Sue’s pay-TV industry prowess combined with her deep market knowledge and proven track record of driving transformation and growth in Asia Pacific, means she is well qualified to lead our team and support Synamedia’s business expansion plans in the region.”
Sue Couto, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific for Synamedia, added, “With the industry’s broadest portfolio of offerings, solutions and expertise, Synamedia is the ideal partner to help operators in Asia Pacific both innovate and capitalize on new opportunities in today’s dynamic media landscape. As an independent company with renewed investment reflecting a new vision, we look forward to working with customers as they transform their businesses.”
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Lotus Chocolate FY26 profit drops sharply, Q4 slips into loss
Revenue steady at Rs 579.55 crore, Q4 loss at Rs 4.47 crore
MUMBAI: Sweet on the top line, slightly bitter on the bottom Lotus Chocolate’s FY26 numbers tell a story that’s more dark cocoa than milk. The company managed to hold its revenue steady for the year, but profitability took a visible hit, capped by a loss-making fourth quarter. Lotus Chocolate Company Limited reported revenue from operations of Rs 579.55 crore for the year ended March 31, 2026, marginally up from Rs 573.75 crore in FY25. Total income rose to Rs 615.61 crore, compared with Rs 574.56 crore in the previous year, supported by a sharp jump in other income to Rs 36.06 crore from just Rs 0.81 crore.
However, the gains at the top did little to cushion profitability. Net profit for FY26 fell dramatically to Rs 0.10 crore, down from Rs 17.23 crore in FY25, reflecting significant cost pressures across the business.
The March quarter proved particularly challenging. The company reported a net loss of Rs 4.47 crore in Q4 FY26, compared with a profit of Rs 0.14 crore in the previous quarter and Rs 1.42 crore in the same quarter last year. Total income for the quarter stood at Rs 138.01 crore, down from Rs 150.21 crore in Q3 FY26 and Rs 157.52 crore in Q4 FY25.
Expenses remained elevated throughout the year. Total expenses rose to Rs 614.44 crore in FY26 from Rs 551.50 crore in FY25, eating into margins. A key swing factor was the cost of materials consumed, which stood at Rs 304.44 crore, while changes in inventories also reflected volatility, with a negative impact of Rs 62.44 crore in the previous year reversing to a positive Rs 52.93 crore this year.
Employee benefit expenses nearly doubled to Rs 34.00 crore from Rs 17.98 crore, while finance costs surged to Rs 16.31 crore from Rs 7.11 crore, indicating higher borrowing and funding costs. Depreciation and amortisation expenses also increased to Rs 3.92 crore from Rs 1.81 crore, reflecting ongoing investments.
On the balance sheet front, total assets stood at Rs 275.96 crore as of March 31, 2026, slightly higher than Rs 270.34 crore a year earlier. Borrowings remained significant, with current borrowings at Rs 89.00 crore, highlighting continued reliance on external funding.
Cash flow dynamics showed improvement in operations, with net cash generated from operating activities at Rs 93.23 crore, compared with a negative Rs 129.60 crore in FY25. However, financing outflows remained high at Rs 74.90 crore, driven largely by repayment of borrowings and interest costs.
Despite stable revenue, the sharp drop in profitability underscores the pressure of rising input costs, higher finance expenses and operational adjustments. The contrast between steady sales and squeezed margins leaves Lotus Chocolate at a crossroads proving that in business, as in confectionery, the real test isn’t just in the sweetness of sales, but in the richness of returns.
