Financials
Piracy severely dents Balaji consolidated numbers in Q2-17
BENGALURU: Despite almost doubling of year-over-year consolidated revenue for the quarter ended 30 September 2016 (Q2-17, current quarter), Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms Limited (Balaji) reported a consolidated loss of Rs 28 crore, as compared to Profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 3.92 crore for the corresponding year ago quarter. The company attributes higher revenue to four films it released in the half year ended 30 September 2016 (H!-17, current half-year) as compared to no releases in H1-16. Balaji says in its investor presentation that piracy of its movies Great Grand Masti and Udta Punjab led to an approximate loss of Rs 36 crore in revenues, severely impacting its profitability in the period.
The company reported 1.92 times higher revenue (TIO) in the current quarter at Rs 105.91 crore as compared to Rs 55.08 crore in Q2-16, and comparatively, just a little lower than the Rs 117.38 crore in the immediate trailing quarter Q1-17.
Consolidated operating loss (negative EBIDTA) in Q2-17 was Rs 26.18 crore as compared to an operating profit (positive EBIDTA) in Q2-16 of Rs 6.33 crore.
On a standalone basis, Balaji Telefilms Limited (BTL) – the television arm reported lower a net profit of Rs 4.4 crore in the current quarter versus Rs 6.6 crore in the corresponding year ago quarter. Standalone revenues for Q2-17 and Q2-16 were Rs 61.2 crore and Rs 53.2 crore respectively.
Revenue from BTL’s Commissioned Programs segment in Q2-17 was Rs 60.9 crore, while for Q2-16 it was Rs 48.3 crore. Programming hours for Q2-17 were 231 hours, significantly higher than the 199 hours reported for the corresponding year ago quarter. Net realisation per hour in Q2-17 was higher at Rs 26.3 lakh as compared to Rs 24.2 lakh in Q2-16. Gross margin and gross margin per hour were lower at Rs 14.7 crore and Rs 6.4 lakh in Q2-17 as compared to Rs 16.9 crore and Rs 8.5 lakh in Q2-16 respectively.
Balaji says that increase in programming hours in this quarter was due to certain special episodes being commissioned during the quarter for its daily soaps; realisation per hour has improved due to better episodic fees; Gross margins have improved this quarter and will continue to improve once the newer shows stabilise. Shows launched post Q2-17 were Naagin 2 on Colors, Chandra Nandni and Pardes Mein Hai Meraa Dill on Star Plus.
Revenue from Balaji’s digital business – ALT- was Nil as the company is getting ready to launch commercial services in early Q4 FY17. Other Income from ALT was Rs 3.3 crore in the current quarter as compared to Nil in Q2-16.
Revenue from Balaj’s movie business for Q2-17 was Rs 43.2 crore against Rs 1.6 crore in Q2-16. The movie business had an operating loss of Rs 28 crore in the current quarter. Operating loss in the corresponding year ago quarter was Rs 4.2 crore. Total amount invested as of 30 September 2016 in movies that are under production was Rs 44.1 crore says the company.
Total Expenditure in the current quarter almost tripled (by 2.94 times) y-o-y at Rs 134.96 crore (127.4 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 45.85 crore (83.2 percent of TIO) in Q2-16. Cost of Production/Acquisition and Telecast Fees in Q2-17 was Rs 78.55 crore (74.2 percent of TIO), 2.1 percent lower than Rs 80.22 crore (145.6 percent of TIO) in the corresponding year ago quarter.
Marketing and distribution expense in Q2-17 increased to Rs 19.55 crore as compared to Rs 0.16 crore in Q2-16. Employee Benefit Expense in the current quarter increased 36/9 percent y-o-y to Rs 6.81 crore (6/4 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 4.97 crore (9 percent of TIO) in Q2-16. Other expenditure in Q2-17 increased 33.8 percent y-o-y to Rs 9.42 crore as compared to Rs 7/04 crore.
Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:
(a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.
(b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.
MUMBAI: It’s time to brief the markets: Page Industries is showing that even when regulations tighten, it can still keep its footing in the innerwear business. The Bengaluru-based apparel major has reported its financials for the quarter ended 31 December 2025, delivering a performance that remains steady and well put together.
The company’s top line showed plenty of elasticity this quarter. Revenue from operations stretched to Rs 1,38,675.71 lakhs, a healthy jump from the Rs 1,29,085.82 lakhs reported in the preceding quarter. Compared to the same period last year, which stood at Rs 1,31,305.10 lakhs, it’s clear the brand’s grip on the market isn’t loosening. Total income for the quarter, including other finance gains, reached a comfortable Rs 1,39,919.03 lakhs.
However, it wasn’t all smooth silk. The Government of India’s new unified Labour Codes, covering everything from wages to social security, officially kicked in on 21 November 2025. This regulatory shift forced Page Industries to account for a one-time “exceptional item” cost of Rs 3,500.42 lakhs to cover incremental employee benefits and related obligations. Despite this Rs 35-crore legislative snag, the underlying business remained robust. Profit before tax stood at Rs 25,625.35 lakhs after the exceptional hit, and without that one-off cost, the figure would have been a more muscular Rs 29,125.77 lakhs. Net profit for the quarter came in at Rs 18,953.64 lakhs.
Total expenses rose to Rs 1,10,793.26 lakhs, driven largely by raw material consumption of Rs 30,162.65 lakhs and employee benefits of Rs 23,310.66 lakhs. Even so, the company’s operational strength ensured the bottom line remained firmly stitched together.
For shareholders, the news is particularly “fitting.” The Board has declared a third interim dividend for 2025-26 of Rs 125 per equity share. The record date has been set for 11 February 2026, with the payment scheduled on or before 6 March 2026. This follows two previous interim dividends of Rs 150 and Rs 125 declared earlier in the financial year, reinforcing the company’s commitment to sharing the spoils of its success.
Looking at the nine-month stretch ending December 2025, Page Industries has amassed total income of Rs 4,04,090.59 lakhs, with total comprehensive income of Rs 58,231.49 lakhs. While the basic earnings per share for the quarter dipped slightly to Rs 169.93, compared to Rs 183.48 in the same quarter last year, the year-to-date EPS remains a solid Rs 524.57.
Auditors at S.R. Batliboi & Associates LLP have given the results a “limited review” thumbs up, reporting no material misstatements. It seems that, as far as Page Industries is concerned, the business remains as well-constructed as its famous Jockey briefs.
