BENGALURU: Jagran Prakashan Limited (JPL) has reported a16.83 per cent jump in its advertisement revenue in Q4-2014 to Rs 291.66 crore from Rs 249.63 crore in Q4-2013. The company reported a 14.27 per cent hike in operating revenue to Rs 420.75 crore in Q4-2014 from Rs 368.20 crore in Q4-2013. PAT however in Q4-2014 dipped (-30.6) per cent to Rs 55.18 crore from Rs79.94 crore in Q4-2013.
Overall in FY-2014, JPL has reported consolidated operating revenue of Rs 1702.73 crore up by 11.89 per cent from Rs 1521.80 crore. Operating Profit of Rs 382.61 crore up by 29.60 per cent from Rs 295.22 crore, Profit Before Tax (PBT) of Rs 305.72 crore up by 19.82 per cent from Rs 255.16 crore, and PAT of Rs 226.26 crore for FY-2014 as against Rs 254.70 crore in FY-2013.
JPL chairman and managing director said, “In continuation of Q3FY14, Q4FY14 once again witnessed a steep growth of 17 per cent in advertisement revenue with further improvement in per copy realisation. On cost front, we continued to keep check. However, increase in newsprint prices partially due to depreciating rupee was unexpected and it lowered the operating margins by 3 per cent. I expect the prices to remain stable at current level. As a result of overall growth in revenues and control over cost, the Company recorded a robust growth in operating profit as well as profit before tax.”
“In FY14, almost all the businesses under investment phase have given improved performance which will improve further. In particular, Naidunia and Digital performed incredibly and strengthened their respective market positions. Digital Advertising recorded growth of 150 per cent and Naidunia recorded growth of 27 per cent in circulation and 30 per cent in advertising revenue. Similarly, Punjabi Jagran grew in acceptability and reduced its loss by more than half and I-Next too had a good year cutting down its loss by 67 per cent. With the new government at centre, my optimism increases manifold and I am seeing fiscal 2014-15 a far more awarding for all the stake holders.”
The Board of Directors of the Company has recommended Final Dividend of Rs 2 per equity share of Rs 2 each (100 per cent) on the paid up equity share capital of the Company.
