Cable TV
Siti Cable Network looks to raise Rs 600 crore
MUMBAI: Essel Group’s subsidiary Siti Cable Network has decided to raise funds worth Rs 600 crore through the issuance of securities. This will be used for operations of the company.
In a statement to the BSE, Siti Cable has said that it has received in-principle approval from its board of directors to raise funds through “issuance of securities such as Equity or Equity related instruments up to rupee equivalent of US$ 100 millions – through private placement / Qualified Institutions Placement (“QIP”) / External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) with rights of conversion into Equity Shares / Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs) / American Depository Receipts (ADRs) / Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Shares or securities linked to Equity Shares.”
This is subject to approval from shareholders and other such approvals. The board has also approved the draft of the postal ballot notice for seeking approval from members of the company including issuance of securities.
The promoters had pumped in Rs 324 crore in three tranches between March 2013 to April 2014. This had increased the promoter shareholding to 72.82 per cent. These funds were being used for business expansion and debt reduction.
The company’s CEO VD Wadhwa had in an interview to indiantelevision.com in January 2014 said, “Phases III and IV of digitisation has a total universe of about 90 million. Of these, we are targeting 6 to 7 million homes. At a gross level, we will require an investment of Rs 1200 crore. On a net basis, we are expecting an investment to the tune of Rs 600 crore. The funding of phase III will be largely done through warrants’ funding of Rs 243 crore, which is likely to be invested by promoters before March 2014. Balance funding requirement will be met through internal accruals and raising of further equity, as may be required.”
MUMBAI: When margins wobble, liquidity talks and in Q3 FY25-26, cash did most of the talking. Den Networks Limited closed the December quarter with consolidated revenue of Rs.251 crore, marginally higher than the previous quarter but down 4 per cent year-on-year, even as profitability stayed resilient on the back of strong cash reserves and disciplined cost control.
Subscription income softened to Rs.98 crore, slipping 3 per cent sequentially and 14 per cent from last year, while placement and marketing income offered some cheer, rising 15 per cent quarter-on-quarter to Rs.148 crore. Total costs climbed faster than revenue, up 7 per cent QoQ to Rs.238 crore, driven largely by higher content costs and operating expenses. As a result, EBITDA dropped sharply to Rs.13 crore from Rs.19 crore in Q2 and Rs.28 crore a year ago, pulling margins down to 5 per cent.
Yet, the bottom line refused to blink. Profit after tax stood at Rs.40 crore, up 15 per cent sequentially and only marginally lower than last year’s Rs.42 crore. A healthy Rs.57 crore in other income helped cushion operating pressure, keeping profit before tax at Rs.48 crore, broadly stable quarter-on-quarter despite the tougher cost environment.
The real headline-grabber, however, sits on the balance sheet. The company remains debt-free, with cash and cash equivalents swelling to Rs.3,279 crore as of December 31, 2025. Net worth rose to Rs.3,748 crore, while online collections accounted for 97 per cent of total receipts, underscoring strong cash discipline across operations, including subsidiaries.
In short, while Q3 showed signs of operating strain, the financial backbone remains solid. With zero gross debt, steady profits and a formidable cash war chest, the company enters the next quarter with flexibility firmly on its side proving that in uncertain markets, balance sheet strength can be the best growth strategy.
