Brands
Hero revs up Q1 with a profit bump and an EV jolt to the system
MUMBAI: EVs, exports, and earnings, Hero MotoCorp’s first quarter of FY26 was anything but idle. The world’s largest two-wheeler maker posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 1,706 crore for the April–June 2025 quarter, a staggering 65 per cent jump from Rs 1,032 crore a year ago. A significant portion Rs 722 crore of that windfall came from a one-time gain following the partial dilution of Hero’s stake in Ather Energy, which went public this quarter.
On a consolidated basis, Hero Motocorp clocked revenue from operations at Rs 9,728 crore, while standalone revenue stood at Rs 9,579 crore. Profit after tax (PAT) on a standalone basis was Rs 1,126 crore, flat compared to Rs 1,123 crore in Q1 FY25.
Despite a slight drop in volumes 13.67 lakh units sold this quarter versus 15.35 lakh last year, the bottom line remained buoyant thanks to a steady 14.4 per cent EBITDA margin (Rs 1,382 crore), mirroring last year’s performance. The consolidated EBITDA margin nudged slightly higher at 14.5 per cent.
Hero’s electric vehicle (EV) arm, VIDA, continues to plug into new opportunities. It launched a subscription-based Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model and introduced the Evooter VX2. A campaign titled ‘Charging Simple Hai’, timed with the IPL, spotlighted VIDA’s swappable battery tech.
On the global front, Hero pushed four new products into the Sri Lankan market in collaboration with long-time distributor Abans Auto: the Xoom 110, Hunk 160R 4V, Xtreme 125R and HF Deluxe.
The 125cc scooter segment, led by Destini 125 and Xoom 125, and the newly launched HF Deluxe Pro in the 100cc segment helped maintain retail traction. VAHAN registrations remained healthy, and the upcoming festive season could accelerate demand.
Premium positioning also got a boost with the Harley-Davidson 2025 line-up rollout, including the return of Street Bob and new Road Glide and Street Glide variants. Hero also opened new Premia stores across the country, reaching the 100-store milestone.
Hero is also tackling regulatory curves. While the company awaits clarity on obligations under the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Rules 2025, it has not yet accounted for any financial impact, citing lack of a defined pricing or certification framework.
Meanwhile, Hero continues to invest in brand visibility on and off the road. It signed golfers Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala as global ambassadors and added young Austrian rider Tobias Ebster to the Hero Motosports Rally team.
Hero’s leadership sounds confident. Hero Motocorp chief financial officer Vivek Anand noted strong performance across electric, global and premium categories and flagged a “robust pipeline of new launches” for the coming quarters.
Investors also got good news earlier this year, with the Board approving a final dividend of Rs 65 per share, taking the FY25 total to Rs 165 per share (8,250 per cent).
Despite a temporary production pause that impacted dispatches, Hero appears ready to hit the throttle as it enters the festive season. With electric mobility gaining traction, international markets humming, and Ather’s IPO money in the bank, Hero seems geared for a smooth ride into the rest of FY26.
Brands
ZEEL transfers syndication business, invests Rs 505 crore in IP push
Restructuring, stake buy and FCCB moves signal sharper content strategy
MUMBAI: In the content economy, owning the story is half the battle monetising it is the real game, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is doubling down on both. The company has approved the transfer of its syndication and content licensing business to its wholly owned subsidiary ZI-IPR Enterprises, alongside an investment of Rs 505 crore aimed at strengthening its play in content intellectual property (IP) acquisition, management and monetisation. The move, effective April 1, 2026, will see the business transferred on a slump sale basis at book value, including all associated assets, liabilities and commercial rights effectively consolidating IP operations under a more focused structure.
At its core, the restructuring signals a strategic shift. As content consumption increasingly fragments across digital and global platforms, the value of IP lies not just in creation but in how efficiently it can be distributed, repackaged and monetised across markets. By housing its syndication engine within ZI-IPR Enterprises, ZEEL appears to be building a more agile and scalable ecosystem, one that can better extract value from its vast content library while adapting to evolving distribution models.
But the company’s ambitions are not limited to restructuring. ZEEL has also approved an investment of up to Rs 20.09 crore in Culture of Real Experiences (CORE), acquiring a 51 per cent stake in the entity. The move expands its footprint into the broader creative and experiential space, suggesting a push beyond traditional broadcasting into areas where content, culture and immersive experiences intersect.
At the same time, ZEEL has moved to tidy up its financials, approving the redemption of $23.9 million in outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and cancelling an unused $215.1 million commitment. The twin steps are expected to ease pressure on its treasury, freeing up capital and improving financial flexibility as the company invests more aggressively in its IP strategy.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a company in recalibration mode streamlining legacy structures, sharpening its focus on content ownership, and exploring new avenues for growth. In a market where the lines between television, streaming and experiential entertainment are increasingly blurred, ZEEL’s latest moves suggest it is not just creating content, but building a system to make that content travel further and pay better.
