Brands
Mukta Arts’ Q3 FY19 consolidated revenues up 33% y-o-y to INR 40.7 core
Mumbai : Mukta Arts Limited today announced the financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended on December 31, 2018, as approved by its Board of Directors.
Consolidated revenue for Q3 FY19 grew by 33.2% y-o-y; from Rs 30.5 crores to Rs 40.7 crores. Whistling Woods International, a Mukta Arts’ subsidiary in the education business posted a 19% growth in revenue for Q3 FY19. During the quarter, Whistling Woods hosted the CILECT Congress, a globally renowned & prestigious event in the film education fraternity. This was the first time that the event was held in India. It attracted eminent keynote speakers and a total of 171 delegates represented 52 countries.
Mukta A2 Cinemas, a subsidiary into exhibition business posted a 43% y-o-y growth in Q3 FY19 revenues at Rs 19.7 crores and turned EBITDA positive. The company added 5 new screens recently and its total count as of today stands at 64 screens, including 6 in Bahrain & 10 under its JV with Asian Cinemas.
For 9M FY19, the company’s consolidated total revenue at Rs 124.3 crore grew by 23%. EBITDA for nine months was Rs 11.7 crore while Total Comprehensive income at Rs 1.7 crore as against Rs 1.4 crore after extraordinary income of Rs 4.3 crore during the corresponding previous nine months of FY18.
Commenting on its performance, Rahul Puri, Managing Director, Mukta Arts said, “Both our key businesses, exhibition and education reported strong revenue growth during Q3. Even for nine months, the revenue growth of over 20% is quite healthy and we reported a small post tax profit compared to losses during the similar period last year. We see good traction across the businesses.”
Brands
Malaika Arora launches accessories brand Maejoy
The Bollywood star’s lifestyle brand, built with Myntra and Exceed Entertainment, promises aspirational fashion without the high price tag
MUMBAI: Malaika Arora is not the first Bollywood star to put her name on a brand, and she will not be the last. But Maejoy, the accessories label she has launched in partnership with Myntra Jabong India Private Limited (MJIPL) and talent outfit Exceed Entertainment, at least has a sharper pitch than most. The brand drops with 250-plus styles spanning handbags and lab-grown diamond jewellery, two categories that sit squarely in the sweet spot between aspiration and affordability, and lands on Myntra’s platform from day one, putting it in front of millions of shoppers without breaking a sweat.
The handbag range covers the full gamut: crossbody bags, structured shoulder bags, bucket bags, totes, workwear classics, backpacks and clutches, rendered in synthetic leather, raffia, braids, satin, rhinestone and metallic finishes. The jewellery line runs to rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets and tennis bracelets in silver, gold and rose-gold tones, set in 925 sterling silver with IGI and GCI certified lab-grown diamonds. The brand’s guiding philosophy, “The Joy of Being Me,” stakes its claim on individuality and self-expression; its three brand pillars, Authentic, Empowering, Accessible, are the usual suspects, though the lab-grown diamond bet is savvier than it sounds. Lab-grown stones now sell at a fraction of the price of mined ones, and the category is growing fast in India as younger buyers wise up to the arbitrage.
“Maejoy is a labour of love. Throughout my career, whether on screen, in business, or through my personal style, I’ve championed the idea that fashion should be empowering yet effortless. The brand aims to democratise global fashion trends while offering women something that extends the feeling of luxury every day, be it a lab-grown diamond or a perfectly crafted handbag,” said Malaika Arora, founder of Maejoy
MJIPL, the B2B wholesale arm of Myntra, is putting its design and brand-building muscle behind the venture. Suman Saha, chief experience officer and head of house of brands at MJIPL, was bullish on the tie-up.
“Maejoy brings together Malaika Arora’s distinctive style perspective with a strong proposition in the accessible yet elevated accessories space. We believe the brand’s fashion-forward designs and thoughtful positioning will connect strongly with discerning consumers.”
Suman Saha, chief experience officer, head of house of brands, MJIPL
Afsar Zaidi, chief executive of Exceed Entertainment, the talent management firm that helped broker the deal, has worked with MJIPL before and was characteristically direct about what makes Arora an unusually bankable partner.
“Building celebrity-led brands requires a delicate balance of authenticity and market viability. Malaika is a rare talent who commands equal respect as a fashion icon and a savvy businesswoman. We are proud to facilitate this partnership that brings together her creative clout and Myntra’s brand-building excellence,” said Zaidi
Celebrity fashion brands live or die on one question: does the star actually wear it, or is the cheque the only thing they signed? Arora, who has spent three decades as one of Bollywood’s most-watched style references, has at least built a plausible case. Maejoy is live now on www.myntra.com and the Myntra app. The real test, whether shoppers buy the handbag or just the hype, starts today.
