iWorld
UFO Moviez board recommends 125% dividend for fiscal 2018
BENGALURU: The board of directors of Indian digital cinema distribution network and in-cinema advertising platform UFO Moviez Ltd (UFO) has mooted a dividend of Rs 12.50 (125 per cent) per equity share of face value of Rs 10 each subject to shareholder approval for the year ended 31 March 2018 (FY 2018, year or fiscal under review). UFO says that this dividend including dividend distribution tax translates to 68 per cent of its FY 2018 consolidated PAT.
UFO reported almost flat (up 0.8 per cent) consolidated PAT for FY 2018 at Rs 60.64 crore as compared to Rs 60.13 crore in the previous fiscal. Total comprehensive income or TCI for the fiscal under review increased 3.2 per cent to Rs 60.35 crore from Rs 58.50 crore in FY 2017. Simple EBITDA including other income for FY 2018 declined 7.5 per cent to Rs 172.93 crore (29 per cent of total revenue) from Rs 186.89 crore (31.1 per cent of total revenue) in the previous year.
UFO’s operating revenue in the fiscal under review was almost flat (reduced 0.8 per cent) at Rs 594.03 crore as compared to Rs 598.95 crore in FY 2017. Total revenue declined 0.6 per cent in FY 2018 to Rs 596.96 crore from Rs 600.65 crore in FY 2017. In its earnings press release, UFO says that advertisement revenue grew by 19.3 per cent to Rs 213.6 crore (In FY 2017 it was Rs 179 crore) million. Average advertisement minutes sold per show per screen grew to 5.19 per cent (FY 2017 – 4.34) minutes during FY 2018.
Total expenditure in FY 2018 increased 2.5 per cent to Rs 424.03 crore from Rs 413.76 crore in the previous year. Purchase of digitalcinema and lamps in the year under review was flat at Rs 67.56 crore as compared to R 67.57 crore in FY 2017. Ad revenue share expense in FY 2018 increased 26 per cent to Rs 65 crore from Rs 51.58 crore in the previous fiscal. Virtual print fees sharing expense in FY 2018 reduced 28 per cent to Rs 52.36 crore from Rs 72.72 crore in FY 2017. Other operating direct costs in FY 2018 increased 2.4 per cent to Rs 55.22 crore from Rs 53.40 crore in FY 2017. Employee benefit expense in FY 2018 increased 3.2 per cent to Rs 83.70 crore from Rs 81.12 crore in FY 2017. Other expenses in the year under review increased 11.3 per cent to Rs 94.81 crore from Rs 85.15 crore in FY 2017.
Company speak:
“UFO ended fiscal 2018 on a strong note by delivering robust advertisement revenues,” said UFO founder and managing director Sanjay Gaikwad. “Growing advertisement contribution to overall profitability minimised the impact of planned reduction in D-Cinema VPF revenue. Additionally, the Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation between UFO and Qube is progressing as per schedule and is currently awaiting requisite approvals from regulatory bodies. We are extremely excited about the future of the merged entity and the opportunities across in-cinema advertising. Also, the board recommended an enhanced dividend of Rs 12.5 per equity share in fiscal 2018. This marks the third consecutive dividend in line with UFO’s shareholder value creation philosophy. Going forward, we will continue to achieve our goals and are confident of delivering long term sustainable growth and shareholder value creation.”
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
