BENGALURU: Hindi newspaper ‘Hindustan’, Hindi socio cultural magazine ‘Kadambini’ and children’s Hindi magazine ‘Nandan’ publishers Hindustan Media Ventures Limited reported 23.1 per cent increase in profit after tax (PAT) to Rs 41.71 crore (18.6 per cent of Total Income from Operations or TIO) in the quarter ended 30 June, 2015 (Q1-2016) from Rs 33.88 crore (16.1 per cent of TIO) in Q1-2015 and 7.1 per cent more than the Rs 38.94 crore (19.3 per cent of TIO) in Q4-2015. (HMVL - not to be confused with HT Media Limited of Hindustan Times, Mint and Fever FM fame).

Note: 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10 million = 1 crore

Advertising and Circulation Revenue:

HMVL advertisement revenue in the current quarter increased 6.9 per cent to Rs 166.2 crore from Rs 155.50 crore in Q1-2015 and 13.4 per cent more than the Rs 146.60 crore in the immediate trailing quarter. Circulation revenue in Q1-2016 increased 8.3 per cent to Rs 53.40 crore from Rs 49.30 crore in Q1-2015 and 5.1 per cent more than the Rs 50.80 crore in Q4-2015.

Let us look at the other results reported by HMVL:

The company reported 6.5 per cent increase in TIO in the current quarter to Rs 233.72 in Q1-2016 crore as compared to the Rs 210.03 crore in Q1-2015 and 10.7 per cent more than the Rs 199.3 Q4-2015.

The company’s total expenditure (TE) in Q1-2016 at Rs 174.72 crore was up 0.8 per cent from Rs 173.32 crore in Q1-2015 and was seven per cent more than the Rs 163.3 crore in Q4-2015.

A major component of HMVL’s TE is cost of raw materials (RM). In Q1-2016, HMVL’s RM cost at Rs 84.80 crore was 2.3 per cent lower than the Rs 86.81 crore in Q1-2015 and was 7.2 per cent more than the Rs 79.14 crore in Q4-2015. 

The company’s employee benefit expense (employee cost) in Q1-2016 at Rs 28.72 crore was 3.1 per cent lower than the Rs 29.64 crore in Q1-2015. In Q4-2015 and was 8.3 per cent more than the Rs 26.52 crore in Q4-2015.

Company Speak:

HMVL chairperson Shobana Bhartia said, “We started the year on a positive note despite predictions of a weak monsoon and subdued rural economic growth. The quarter’s performance was according to plan, and we saw a healthy growth in operating revenue and profits. Our operations in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand continue to drive growth in advertising and profitability. And we have further strengthened our dominant leadership positions in Bihar and Jharkhand despite a higher intensity of competition. We believe we are in a good position to continue our growth momentum in the year ahead as we reap the benefits of our investments.”