Jagran Prakashan Limited announces FY09 results

 Annual Results FY09 (all comparisons with FY08)
• Operating Revenues at Rs 823.37 crores, up by 9.84% from Rs 749.63 crores
• Operating Profits at Rs 156.71 crores, down by 4.33 % from Rs 163.80 crores
• PAT at Rs 91.63 crores, down by 6.62% from Rs 98.13 crores
• EPS of Rs 3.04, lower by 6.75% from Rs 3.26
• Operating profit and PAT are after accounting for foreign exchange difference of Rs.6.18 crores, which the company had an option to capitalize. 

Q4 FY09 Results (all comparisons with Q4 FY08)
• Operating Revenues at Rs 201.25 crores, up by 5.91% from Rs 190.01 crores
• Operating Profits at Rs 39.00 crores, up by  29.92% from Rs 30.02 crores
• PAT at Rs 21.82 crores, up by 40.91 % from Rs 15.48 crores
• EPS (non-annualized) at Rs 0.72 as compared to Rs 0.51

Kanpur, June 16, 2009: Jagran Prakashan Limited (JPL), publishers of 'Dainik Jagran', India's largest read daily (Source: IRS 2009 Round 1), has reported Operating revenues of Rs 823.37 crores for FY09, an increase of 9.84% as compared to Rs 749.63 crores in FY08. Total revenue for the FY09 was Rs. 846.09 crores, an increase of 9.72% over previous year. The net profit was at Rs 91.63 crores, down by 6.62% from Rs 98.13 crores in the corresponding period. The EPS for the year was Rs 3.04 as against Rs 3.26 for the year FY08.  

In FY09, JPL had revenue from its recent initiatives (out of home advertising, event management and SMS), of  Rs. 58.45 crores in FY09 as against Rs. 56.01 crores in FY08, an increase of 4.36% over last year.

The significant developments during the year are:–
(i) Indian Readership Survey 2009 (IRS 2009 Round I) reaffirmed  12th time in a row No.1 status of Dainik Jagran  in the country across all languages with a total readership of 54.58 million

(ii) The advertisement and circulation revenues grew respectively by 10.61% and 7.75%.

(iii) Operating cash surplus increased by 26.29% despite lower profits reflecting efficient working capital management.  

(iv) I-Next, City Plus and other businesses continued to progress satisfactorily.     

(v) Capex during the year was Rs.139.27 crores.
 
(vi)  A classified web portal Khojle.in also accessible through mobile and WAP site Wap.jagran.com making Dainik Jagran available even on mobile phones were launched.

(vii)    Proposed Final Dividend of Rs 2 per share of face value of Rs. 2 each i.e. 100% of the face value of the equity shares.

Commenting on the performance of the company for the year and quarter ended 31st March 2009, Mr. Mahendra Mohan Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, JPL said,

“The performance of the company during the financial year 2008-09 was satisfactory given the global economic slowdown coupled with sky high newsprint prices. However, the outlook continues to be pretty positive for the entire media industry although there is going to be some pressure on revenue in near term. Business friendly government at center which is committed to regain 8% - 9% GDP growth adds to my confidence. There was also a positive in this difficult economic environment as not only we but others also looked at it as an opportunity to control cost and to work out more efficient marketing strategies, that will help in long term.  I reiterate our commitment to the cause of every stake-holder of the Company and will not be found wanting”.

About Jagran Prakashan Limited:

Jagran Prakashan Limited is a leading media house of India which publishes Dainik Jagran, India's largest read daily with a total readership of 54.58 million readers (IRS 2009 R1). It was also voted the most credible and trusted newspaper in India, according to a survey by Globscan, conducted in 10 of the world's leading countries, including the US, UK, Germany and Russia.

Established in 1942, Dainik Jagran was the brainchild of the Indian Freedom fighter, Late Shri Puran Chandra Gupta. Dainik Jagran is now published in 37 editions across 11 states from 30 different facilities. The company also launched I-next, the first ever bilingual newspaper in the country in December, 2006 now published in 9 editions and also has an English Infotainment paper called City Plus now published in 13 editions. The group publishes Sakhi, a monthly magazine targeted at women. The group also publishes Jagran Varshiki, an annual general knowledge digest, and various national and state statistical compilations.

Jagran Engage provides specialized 'Out of Home' advertising services with a Pan-India footprint. Jagran Solutions provides below the line activities like promotional marketing, event management and on ground activities having pan India presence. The company has Hindi news portal in association with Yahoo India, www.in.jagran.yahoo.com and the company’s division J9 provides IVR/AVR/SMS services through its short code service 57272 and besides initiatives in digital businesses.

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