Brands
FY-2015: HT Media radio segment reports 37% operating profit growth
BENGALURU: HT Media’s radio segment reported 37.1 per cent growth in operating profit at Rs 29.21 crore in FY-2015 as compared to the Rs 21.31 crore in FY-2014.The segment reported 78.8 per cent growth in operating result in Q4-2015 (quarter ended 31 March, 2015, current quarter) at Rs 8.56 crore as compared to the Rs 4.81 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year (Q4-2014) but was 9.3 per cent lower than the Rs 9.44 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q3-2015.
Note: (1) 100,00,000 = 100 Lakhs = 10 million = 1 crore
(2) The figures mentioned in this report are consolidated figures unless stated otherwise.
HT Media has four FM radio stations – Fever 104 in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. HT Media’s radio segment’s revenue in FY-2015 at Rs 99.38 crore was 6.8 per cent more than the Rs 93.12 crore in FY-2014. The company says that growth was driven by advertising revenues growth of approximately 12 per cent being partially off-set by reduced focus on events and activations.
In Q4-2014, the segment reported 12.8 per cent growth in operating revenue to Rs 25.82 crore as compared to the Rs 22.88 crore in Q4-2014 and was almost flat (up 0.04 per cent) as compared to the Rs 25.81 crore in Q3-2015.
The company reported four per cent growth in Total Income from Operations (TIO) FY-2014 at Rs 2289.71 crore as compared to the Rs 2200.70 crore in FY-2014. TIO in Q4-2015 at Rs 576.92 crore was 6.1 per cent more than the Rs 543.84 crore in Q4-2015 but was 4.7 per cent lower than the Rs 605.50 crore in the previous quarter.
The company reported 13.4 per cent decline in profit after tax (PAT) in FY -2015 at Rs 179.81 crore as compared to the Rs 207.53 crore in FY-2014. PAT in Q4-2015 at Rs 39.28 crore was 12.7 per cent higher than the Rs 34.84 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, but declined 38.6 per cent as compared to the Rs 63.97 crore in Q3-2015.
Advertising, circulation and other revenues
Advertising revenue in FY-2015 at Rs 1851.7 crore improved 5.3 per cent from the Rs 1758.3 crore in FY-2014. Ad revenue in Q4-2015 grew 5.7 per cent to Rs 465.3 crore from Rs 440.1 crore in the year ago quarter, but declined 6.3 per cent from the Rs 496.1 crore in the trailing quarter.
Circulation revenue in FY-2015 improved 10.8 per cent to Rs 284.8 crore from Rs 257 crore in FY-2014. In Q4-2015, circulation revenue improved 8.6 per cent to Rs 71.1 crore from Rs 65.5 crore in Q4-2014, but declined 3.1 per cent from Rs 73.4 crore in Q3-2015.
Other revenues in the current year declined 7.8 per cent to Rs 320.7 crore from Rs 347.7 crore in FY-2014. Other revenues improved 12.5 per cent in the current quarter to Rs 90.3 crore in Q4-2015 from Rs 80.3 crore in Q4-2014 and improved 13.2 per cent from Rs 79.8 crore in Q3-2014
Segment Revenue
Three segments contribute to HT Media’s numbers – (1) Printing and publishing of newspapers and periodicals (Publishing) (2) Radio and (3) Digital.
Radio segment’s results have been mentioned above.
Printing & Publishing of Newspapers & Periodicals (Printing)
The segment reported 2.9 per cent growth in revenue FY-2015 at Rs 2088.34 crore in FY-2015 as compared to the Rs 2029.61 crore in FY-2014. Revenue in Q4-2015 at Rs 522.85 crore was 5.5 per cent more than the Rs 495.65 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter, but declined 5.5 per cent as compared to the Rs 553.20 crore in Q3-2015.
Printing segment reported 9.4 per cent decline in operating profit to Rs 280.20 crore in Fy-2015 from Rs 309.41 crore in FY-2014. The segment’s operating profit in Q4-2015 declined 10.1 per cent to Rs 70.12 crore from Rs 78.04 crore in Q4-2014 and declined 10.7 per cent from Rs 78.49 crore in Q3-2015.
Digital segment
HT Media’s digital segment reported 36.3 per cent growth in FY-2015 to Rs 103.90 crore from Rs 76.22 crore in FY-2014.The segment reported 31.1 per cent growth in operating revenue to Rs 28.60 crore from Rs 21,82 crore in Q4-2014 and was 7.3 per cent more than the Rs 26.65 crore in Q3-2015. The segment has been reporting operating loss on a regular basis.
Company speak
HT Media chairperson and editorial director Shobana Bhartia said, “We ended the year on a high note on the back of a growth in ad revenue and higher circulation in Mumbai and the Hindi belt. Hindustan Times’ Mumbai edition and Hindustan’s Uttar Pradesh editions, strengthened their presence in their respective geographies, and were both profitable. Our digital businesses grew handsomely and are at an inflection point. Radio continues to do well and we will invest in its growth. With a strong base, our continuing focus on digital initiatives and stronger tailwinds in the economy, we are confident of delivering value to our shareholders in the year ahead.”
The Board of Directors at its meeting on 15 May, 2015 recommended a dividend of Rs0.40 perequity share of Rs2 each; translating to 20 per cent of face value. Dividend for the year amounted to Rs 9.31 crore (excluding Dividend Distribution Tax).
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Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
