BENGALURU: Despite lower admits and occupancy during the quarter ended 31 December 2017 (Q3 2018, the quarter under review), Indian entertainment and exhibition company PVR Ltd (PVR) reported higher revenue due to higher ticket prices. In its investor presentation, the company reported 2.8 per cent year-on-year (yoy) drop in admits during Q3 2018 at 1.74 crore as compared with Rs 1.79 crore in Q2 2017 and a yoy decline in occupancy to 29.1 per cent from 32 per cent. The company reported an increase in average ticket price per show to Rs 212 during the quarter under review from Rs 199 during the corresponding year ago quarter. PVR says that the top-five movies contributed 50 per cent to the gross box office in Q3 2018 as against 52 per cent in Q3 2017. The occupancy of top-five movies in Q3 2018 was 37 per cent as against 41 per cent in Q3 2017.

PVR’s revenue from operations increased 5 per cent yoy in Q3 2018 to Rs 557.25 crore from Rs 530.88 crore. Total Income increased 3.4 per cent yoy to Rs 560.46 crore in Q3 2018 from Rs542.02 crore. The company says that other operating income in Q3 2017 included government subsidy of Rs 8.61 crore provided by various state governments. In the quarter under review, this component has not been accounted for on account of lack of clarity on refund mechanism for the tax exemptions under the new GST regime.

PVR’s EBIDTA (including other income) increased 13.7 per cent yoy during the quarter under review to Rs 103.55 crore (18.8 per cent margin of total revenue) from Rs 91.10 crore (16.8 per cent margin of Total revenue). Net profit after tax (PAT) increased 24 per cent yoy in Q3 2018 to Rs 29.16 crore from Rs 23,52 crore. Total comprehensive income during the quarter under review increased 20.8 per cent yoy to Rs 28.87 crore from Rs 23.89 crore.

Let us look at the other numbers reported by PVR

PVR reports revenue from two segments–movie exhibition and others. The movie exhibition segment saw 6.9 per cent yoy increase in operating revenue to Rs 546.01 crore from Rs 510.94 crore. The segment had 17.4 per cent yoy increase in operating results at Rs 41.44 crore from Rs 35.27 crore. Others segment revenue saw 51.9 per cent yoy decline in revenue to Rs 17.85 crore from Rs 37.08 crore. Others segment operating profit grew 220.8 per cent to Rs 3.08 crore from Rs 0.96 crore during corresponding year ago quarter.

PVR’s total expenditure during the quarter under review was up by 1.9 per cent yoy at Rs 515.55 crore as compared to Rs 505.77 crore. Finance cost was up 3.8 per cent yoy to Rs 21.17 crore in Q3 2018 from Rs 20.40 crore.

Movie exhibition cost in Q3 2018 increased 13.4 per cent yoy to Rs 132.28 crore from Rs 116.69 crore. Cost of consumption of food and beverages in the quarter rose by 9.3 per cent yoy to Rs 37.90 crore from Rs 34.66 crore.

Employee benefits expense in Q3 2018 increased by 8 per cent yoy to Rs 62.17 crore from Rs 57.57 crore. Rent expenses during the quarter were almost flat (increased by 0.2 per cent) yoy to Rs 99.356 crore from Rs 99.13 crore. Other expenses in Q2 2018 declined by 12.4 per cent yoy to Rs 125.21 crore from Rs 142.87 crore.