Dear Members,
The Directors have pleasure in presenting this Twelfith Annual Report
together with the Audited Accounts of the Company for the financial
year ended March 31, 2011.
1. Financial Highlights
Amount in Rupees
Financial year Financial year
2010 - 2011 2009 - 2010
Income 2,835,665,618 2,311,850,421
Profit before Tax & Exceptional item 609,734,330 182,748,146
Profit on sale of Subsidiary 126,848,239
Tax Expenses 214,493,272 4,079,063
Profit afiter Tax 522,089,297 178,669,083
Profit brought Forward 952,991,947 774,322,864
Equity 476,704,150 476,704,150
Transfer to General Reserve
Surplus carried to Balance Sheet 1,475,081,244 952,991,947
2. Financial Performance
Your Company retained its position as the market leader in Private FM
Radio Broadcasting Industry. Total income of the Company increased from
Rs. 2,311,850,421 during the previous year to Rs. 2,835,665,618 during
the year under review. Profit afiter tax was higher at Rs. 522,089,297.
The performance is discussed in detail in the Management Discussion and
Analysis Report which forms part of the Annual Report.
3. Operations
This year saw the world economy coming back on track. The IMF reported
that world economy grew at 5% in 2010 and is likely to grow at 4.5% in
2011 and 2012. The world advertising market also came back on the
growth path with Zenith Optimedia reporting that the world ad market
grew by 5.5% in 2010. The momentum is expected to continue and the
growth is expected to be 4.2%, 5.8% and 5.5% in 2011,
2012 and 2013 respectively. The Indian economy, which was not adversely
affected by the global downturn has also recovered and is expected to
have grown 8% this year according to RBI estimates. The Indian
advertising Industry which is directly dependent on the overall economy
also had an impressive growth of nearly 17% this year. It is further
expected to grow at 13% till 2015.
The overall recovery has had a positive impact on your Company''s
revenue performance. The Company''s total income grew by nearly 23%
during the year under review.
Your Company continued to keep a keen eye on costs and increasing the
overall productivity of the Company. We are committed to maintaining a
lean and smart operation. There is also a great deal of focus in
keeping the culture of the Company vibrant and meritocratic so that
talent is retained in the Company.
Phase III of radio expansion has been pending for quite a while now and
is expected finally to be announced in the next few months. Your
Company is gearing up to face the challenges and tap the opportunities
that Phase III would throw at us. With the sale of the Company''s entire
equity stake in Times Innovative Media Limited (erstwhile subsidiary of
the Company- engaged in the ''Out Of Home Media business''), your Company
has ensured that it is not burdened by the capital requirements of ''Out
Of Home Media business'' and is able to garner resources and funds for
the expansion plans of the radio business in Phase III.
Your Company has benefited from some other important developments of
this year. The Hon''ble Copyright Board passed an order this year which
would cap the overall royalty payout by Radio broadcasters to music
providers at 2% of the revenues of the broadcaster. This will have a
positive impact on your Company''s profitability. Many music providers
have challenged this order and the final verdicts on all these appeals
are expected in due course of time. The Interim appeals were challenged
in the Hon''ble Supreme Court and the Hon''ble Supreme Court has refused
to stay the said Copyright Board''s order. We are confdent that the
orders of the Hon''ble Copyright Board would continue to be upheld as it
has been arrived at afiter an elaborate and exhaustive hearings.
Your Company has continued its focus on strengthening its brand this
year as well. Radio Mirchi continued to be the leader in 3 (Mumbai,
Delhi and Kolkata) - out of the 4 RAM markets. While its lead has been
challenged on some occasions, we are confdent that we would attain a
consistent leadership position in these markets. We continue to be a
very close second in Bangalore and actually got to the leadership
position on a few occasions.
Your Company once again achieved the leadership position in the only
PAN India measurement of Radio through the IRS (Indian Readership
Survey). The survey recorded Radio Mirchi''s listenership at 41.2 mn,
which is significantly higher than the next radio brand.
Your Company is very aware of the challenges and benefits that the
increasing proliferation of digitization is introducing. We have made
good progress on both the mobile and web platforms. Your Company had
launched a mobile VAS product Mirchi Mobile earlier this year, which
has seen reasonable success. We are committed to making the brand a
significant entity in the digital space as well and are working on
creating processes which help create synergy between our on-air content
and digital content.
Your Company hosted the 3rd edition of the Mirchi Music awards this
year. This tribute to the music fraternity the artists, composers,
lyricists - grew even bigger this year with the introduction of new
categories of awards and an increased support from the fraternity
itself. We will continue to making this award more successful and
bigger in scale in the coming years.
Your Company was awarded with many honors this year. The most
prestigious of them was being declared the most successful radio
channel of the year by FICCI. We have been conferred this award two
years in a row and are the only radio company to have received this
award till date. The morning show of Delhi was awarded a Silver at the
New York Festival awards this year in the category of Best Human Story.
Radio Mirchi was also awarded the Power Brand of India in the
Entertainment category by Planman consulting. We were the only radio
station to have been bestowed with this honor. Some of the other media
brands which were honored were Times of India, NDTV and Star Plus.
Your Company is excited about the opportunities that the future holds.
An economy that is growing, a sense of optimism amongst the
advertisers, Phase III of FM radio expansion, a good year behind us
all of this gives us confdence that we will be able to meet your
expectations in the next year. We are, as always, committed to creating
value for the business, the industry and above all you.
4. Dividend
In order to conserve the resources to augment future growth, your
Directors do not recommend any dividend for the financial year 2010 -
2011.
5. Fixed Deposits
The Company has not accepted any fixed deposits and, as such, no amount
of principal or interest was outstanding as on the date of the Balance
Sheet.
6. Directors
Mr. Richard Saldanha was appointed as an Additional Director
(Independent Non-Executive Director), with effect from November 23,
2010 pursuant to the provisions of Section 260 of the Companies Act,
1956. Accordingly, Mr. Saldanha holds office up to the date of the
forthcoming Annual General Meeting and being eligible, offers himself
for appointment. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 257 of the
Companies Act, 1956, a notice in writing has been received from a
Member proposing Mr. Saldanha as a Director of the Company.
Mr. Deepak M. Satwalekar (Independent Non-Executive Director) resigned
from the Board of Directors of the Company effective from March 30,
2011. The Board of Directors wishes to place on record their
appreciation for the valuable services rendered by Mr. Satwalekar
during his tenure.
In accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956, read with
the Articles of Association of the Company, Mr. N. Kumar and Mr.
Ravindra Dhariwal retire by rotation at the ensuing Annual General
Meeting and being eligible, offer themselves for re-appointment.
Brief resume of the Directors proposed to be appointed, nature of their
expertise in specific functional areas, names of the companies in which
they hold directorships and the memberships / chairmanships of
Committees of the Board and their shareholding in the Company, as
stipulated under the Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement entered into
with the Stock Exchanges, are set out in the Annexure to the Notice
forming part of the Annual Report.
7. Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Company presently comprises Mr. N. Kumar
(Chairman), Mr. Ravindra Dhariwal, Mr. Ravindra Kulkarni and Mr.
Richard Saldanha. The Internal Auditors of the Company report directly
to the Audit Committee. Brief description of the terms of reference of
the Audit Committee has been furnished in the Report on Corporate
Governance.
8. Auditors
Messrs Price Waterhouse & Co., Chartered Accountants, the Statutory
Auditors of the Company retire at the conclusion of the Twelfith Annual
General Meeting and have confirmed their eligibility and willingness to
accept office, if appointed.
Members are requested to appoint Messrs Price Waterhouse & Co.,
Chartered Accountants, as the Statutory Auditors of the Company for the
period commencing from the conclusion of the Twelfith Annual General
Meeting until the conclusion of the Thirteenth Annual General Meeting
and to fix their remuneration.
9. Buy-Back of Shares
During the financial year under review, the Company has not offered to
buy-back any of its outstanding shares.
10. Conservation of Energy
The operations of the Company are not energy intensive. Nevertheless,
continuous efforts are being made by the Company and its employees to
reduce the wastage of scarce energy resources.
11. Foreign Exchange Earnings & Outgo
Statement pursuant to Section 217(1)(e) of the Companies Act, 1956,
read with the Companies (Disclosure of Particulars in the Report of
Board of Directors) Rules, 1988:
(i) Activities relating to export, initiatives to increase exports,
developments of new export markets for products and services and export
plan:
The Company is actively exploring profitable business opportunities in
the export market.
(ii) Total foreign exchange earned and used:
Amount in Rupees
Financial Year Financial Year
2010 - 2011 2009 2010
Foreign exchange earnings
Foreign exchange outgo 7,454,160 2,263,137
12. Technological Absorption, Adaptation and Innovation
Statement pursuant to Section 217(1)(e) of the Companies Act, 1956,
read with the Companies (Disclosure of Particulars in the Report of
Board of Directors) Rules, 1988, is hereunder:
a) Efforts made towards technology absorption,
adaptation and innovation N.A.
b) Benefits derived as a result of the above efforts N.A.
c) Information regarding imported technology N.A.
13. Research & Development
a) Specific areas in which Research and Development
is carried out by the Company N.A.
b) Benefits derived as a result of the above research
and development N.A.
c) Future plan of action N.A.
d) Expenditure on Research and Development N.A.
14. Particulars of Employees
Particulars of the employees as required under the provisions of
Section 217(2A) of the Companies Act, 1956, read with the Companies
(Particulars of Employees) Rules, 1975, as amended, are given in the
annexure appended hereto and forms part of this report. In terms of
Section 219(1)(b)(iv) of the Companies Act, 1956, the Annual Report and
Accounts are being sent to all the Members excluding the aforesaid
annexure. Any Member interested in obtaining a copy of the said
annexure may write to the Company Secretary at the Registered Office of
the Company.
15. Share Capital & Listing of Securities
The equity shares of the Company are listed and admitted to dealings on
Bombay Stock Exchange Limited (BSE) and National Stock Exchange of
India Limited (NSE) effective from February 15, 2006. Annual Listing
Fee has been paid to each exchange.
16. Management Discussion and Analysis Report
Management Discussion and Analysis Report for the financial year under
review as stipulated in Clause 49 of the Listing Agreement entered into
with the Stock Exchanges is set out in a separate section forming part
of the Annual Report.
17. Corporate Governance
The Company is adhering to good Corporate Governance practices in every
sphere of its operations. The Company has taken adequate steps to
comply with the applicable provisions of Corporate Governance as
stipulated in Clause 49 of the Listing Agreements entered into with the
Stock Exchanges. A separate report on Corporate Governance is enclosed
as a part of the Annual Report along with the Certificate from a
practicing company secretary confirming compliance with the conditions
of Corporate Governance. Observations of the practicing Company
Secretary in the aforesaid Certificate has been adequately dealt with in
the report on Corporate Governance, which forms part of the Annual
Report.
18. Directors'' Responsibility Statement
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 217 (2AA) of the Companies Act,
1956, the Directors, based on the representations received from the
Operating Management, hereby confirm that:
(i) in the preparation of the annual accounts, the applicable
accounting standards have been followed and that there are no material
departures;
(ii) they have, in the selection of the accounting policies, consulted
the Statutory Auditors and have applied the suggested accounting
policies consistently and made judgments and estimates that are
reasonable and prudent so as to give a true and fair view of the state
of affairs of the Company for the financial year ended on March 31, 2011
and of the profit of the Company for that period;
(iii) they have taken proper and sufficient care for the maintenance of
adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the
Companies Act, 1956, for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for
preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities, to the best of
their knowledge and ability;
(iv) they have prepared the annual accounts on a going concern basis.
19. Subsidiary Companies
Alternate Brand Solutions (India) Limited is engaged in the business of
event management/ experiential marketing under the brand and style
''360°''.
On December 29, 2010, the Company sold its entire equity stake of 83.44
% in Times Innovative Media Limited [''TIM''] to Bennett, Coleman &
Company Limited [''BCCL'']. BCCL is the parent company of the Company
(''ENIL''). Consequent to the sale, TIM ceased to be a subsidiary of the
Company with effect from December 30, 2010.
Based on the outstanding debt in the Balance Sheet of TIM as on the
date of the consummation of the transaction, the enterprise value for
the sale amounted to Rs. 130.4 crores. Pursuant to the sale, ENIL
received a cash consideration of Rs. 45 crores for its equity
investment of Rs. 32 crores in TIM. Further, it also received full
repayment for the loans advanced to TIM and amounting to Rs. 58 crores
as on the date of the consummation of transaction. The resultant cash
infows helped ENIL retire its entire debt and build sizeable cash
reserves for the upcoming Phase III expansion. The sale also relieved
ENIL from the burden of meeting the sizeable funding requirements of
TIM. BCCL also assumed all the obligations and liabilities under the
guarantees provided by ENIL on account of TIM.
As per Section 212 of the Companies Act, 1956, the Company is required
to attach the Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account and other documents
of its subsidiary companies to the Balance Sheet of the Company.
Pursuant to the approval from the Government of India, Ministry of
Corporate Affairs vide their letter No. 47/51/2011-CL-III dated
February 1, 2011, the Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Account and other
documents of the Subsidiary Company are not attached to the Balance
Sheet of the Company. Further it may also be noted that vide General
Circular No. 2/ 2011 dated February 8, 2011 issued by the Government of
India (Ministry of Corporate Affairs), general exemption has been
granted to companies from attaching financial statements of
subsidiaries, subject to fulfillment of conditions stated in the said
circular.
Relevant financial information of the Subsidiary Company is disclosed in
the Annual Report. The Company shall make available the Annual Accounts
and the related detailed information of its subsidiary to any Member of
the Company or its subsidiary who may be interested in obtaining the
same at any point of time. These documents will also be available for
inspection during business hours at the Registered Office. The
Consolidated Financial Statements presented by the Company include
financial results of its subsidiary companies.
20. Consolidated Financial Statements
In accordance with the Accounting Standard 21 on Consolidated Financial
Statements, the audited Consolidated Financial Statements are annexed
and form part of the Annual Report.
21. Acknowledgements
Your Directors take this opportunity to convey their appreciation to
all the members, listeners, advertisers, media agencies, dealers,
suppliers, bankers, regulatory and government authorities and all other
business associates for their continued support and confdence in the
management of the Company. Your Directors are pleased to place on
record their appreciation of the consistent contribution made by
employees at all levels through their hard work, dedication, solidarity
and cooperation and acknowledge that their efforts have enabled the
Company to achieve new heights of success.
For and on behalf of the Board of Directors
Vineet Jain
Mumbai, May 23, 2011 Chairman
Registered Office:
4th Floor, ''A'' Wing, Matulya Centre,
Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Pare (West),
Mumbai 400 013.
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