gujarat fluorochemicals ltd Management discussions


Indian economic overview

Despite being exposed to the challenging global economic conditions, India emerged as one of the most rapidly expanding major economies worldwide. Throughout the FY 2023, the domestic economy displayed remarkable resilience against the adverse effects of global headwinds and achieved a noteworthy growth rate of 7.2%.1

The growth observed can be attributed, as per the sectoral analysis, to an upward trend in construction activity, which has been facilitated by substantial infrastructure investments from both the Central Government and state governments. This strategic investment is also creating substantial employment opportunities on a large scale.

During the FY 2023, there was a consistent increase in GST collections, electronic toll collections, and the generation of E-Way bills, signifying promising momentum. Furthermore, the indicators pertaining to the services sector, such as UPI transactions and high credit demand, provide indications of potential long-term expansion.

April 2023 GST collection hits record high reached Rs 1.87 lakh crore.

Outlook

Although the revival of private investment post-pandemic is at an initial stage, there are early indications that India is progressing towards a more robust investment upcycle in both the manufacturing and services sectors.

The demand conditions in India continue to be favourable for sustained economic growth. The country holds an optimistic outlook for the upcoming fiscal year, supported by underlying macroeconomic stability. However, there is a cautious awareness of rising geopolitical and geoeconomic concerns that need to be taken into consideration.

Industry overview

Media and entertainment industry

The Indian Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector has exhibited robust growth, with an increase of INR 348 billion (19.9%), reaching a total value of INR 2.1 trillion (US$26.2 billion).

This growth represents a substantial 10% surge beyond its pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Notably, television remains the largest segment within the M&E industry, while digital media has solidified its position as a formidable second segment, closely followed by a resurgent print media. Additionally, the filmed entertainment segment has rebounded significantly, with theatrical releases doubling, leading to its reclaiming of the fourth position, overtaking online gaming.

Furthermore, the proportion of revenue generated by traditional media, which includes television, print, filmed entertainment, out-of-home advertising, music, and radio, has decreased from 71% in 2019 to 58% in 2022.2

M&E sector growth (values in INR in billion)

(Source- EY FCCI, M&E Report)

In 2022, every segment of the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry, with the exception of TV subscription, demonstrated growth. Among them, digital media experienced the most substantial expansion, amounting to INR 132 billion, leading to an increased contribution to the overall M&E sector from 16% in 2019 to 27% in 2022. If data charges associated with digital consumption were taken into account when sizing, its share would reach 50% of the total M&E sector.

Additionally, the experiential segments, encompassing activities outside the home, witnessed a recovery in 2022. As a result, the filmed entertainment and live events segments experienced growth of INR 79 billion and INR 41 billion, respectively. Moreover, half of the industrys growth was driven by traditional media, with the remaining portion attributed to the digital, online gaming, and visual effects (VFX) segments.

1https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1942795

2EY FCCI, M&E Report

Segment wise growth 2022 vs. 2021 (values in INR in billion)

(Source- EY FCCI, M&E Report)

Outlook

The Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector in India is expected to maintain its growth trajectory, with an estimated expansion of 11.5% in 2023. This growth is projected to bring the total value of the sector to INR 2.34 trillion (US$29.2 billion).

Over the course of three years, the M&E sector is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 10.5%, resulting in an addition of INR 734 billion to reach value of INR 2.83 trillion by 2025. The primary drivers of this growth will be the digital, online gaming, and television segments, collectively contributing to 65% of the overall growth. Additionally, animation and visual effects (VFX) will contribute to 11% of the growth, followed by live events and films, each contributing 8% to the sectors expansion.3

Indian film entertainment industry

The filmed entertainment industry in India witnessed a significant recovery, reaching 90% of its pre-pandemic levels. The domestic film releases doubled compared to the previous year, leading to gross box office revenues crossing INR 100 billion, marking the second-highest milestone in the countrys history. Additionally, 335 Indian films were released abroad during this period.

However, broadcast rights faced subdued demand due to lower ratings of film channels. On the other hand, digital rights rationalised and abandoned their direct-to-OTT premiums, as larger films reverted to theatrical releases.

It is anticipated that this segment will continue to grow, reaching INR 228 billion by 2025. This growth will be driven by higher per capita income, expanding the cinema audience base to 120 to 150 million, and offering segmented offerings, catering to distinct audience sets across various markets and price points.

In 2022, a total of 1,623 movies were released across languages, representing a 9% increase compared to 2019 levels. Among these, the highest number of films were released in Telugu (278) and Kannada (233), followed by Tamil (288) and Malayalam (199). However, Hindi saw only 194 film releases.

The total screen count was estimated at 9,382, which is around 2% lower than before the pandemic, according to UFO Moviez estimates. Notably, after three decades, Srinagar witnessed the opening of its first multiplex cinema, designed by INOX as an effort to bring entertainment opportunities to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.4

Film releases were at 200% in 2022 as compared to 2021.

3EY FCCI, M&E Report 4EY FCCI, M&E Report

Film releases

Mutual fund industry

According to the Morning Star report, the Indian market has shown resilience despite the lackluster performance of domestic mutual funds, except for sectoral and thematic plans, which experienced the highest inflows during the fourth quarter of FY2022-23. During the last three months of the FY23, open-end mutual funds witnessed net outflows of INR 1,839 crores. The report highlights that the industry faced challenging times in the first nine months of 2022. In the fourth quarter, sectoral and thematic funds attracted the highest inflows, followed by small-cap and mid-cap funds. In terms of weight, large-cap and flexi-cap categories continued to lead the inflows into mutual funds, with mid-cap funds following closely.5

As of June 30, 2023, the Assets Under Management (AUM) of the Indian Mutual Fund Industry reached INR 44,39,187 crore. This represents a significant growth compared to INR 8.11 trillion recorded on June 30, 2013, marking an increase of more than 5 times in a period of 10 years. Furthermore, the total number of accounts (folios) in the industry as of June 30, 2023, amounted to 14.91 crore (149.1 million). Among these, the number of folios under Equity, Hybrid, and Solution Oriented Schemes, where the primary investment is from the retail segment, was approximately 11.91 crore (119.1 million).6

Outlook

The future of mutual funds in India appears promising. In the past, there were around 200 schemes offered by various institutions, but this number has now grown exponentially to reach 1000 schemes. This evolution is expected to attract a larger pool of investors. The rapid development of the fintech industry enables even individuals in remote areas to access financial markets effortlessly.

The availability of diverse schemes is advantageous as it caters to a wide range of investors with varying risk appetites. Despite facing challenges such as inflation, liquidity tightening by global central banks, interest rate hikes, and geopolitical tensions in 2022, the mutual fund industry in India displayed a steady growth rate. Further, it is projected that the mutual fund industry in India will experience a CAGR growth of 21.5% till the year 2027. 7

Company overview

GFL Limited operates as a holding company of its wholly owned subsidiary INOX Infrastructure Limited. It holds investments in PVR Inox Limited, one of the countrys prominent multiplex chains. Additionally, the Company is actively involved in the business of Mutual Fund distribution. This integrated structure allows GFL Limited to leverage the strengths and resources of its subsidiary company, INOX Infrastructure Limited while maintaining a significant presence in the entertainment industry through its investments in PVR Inox Limited. Furthermore, the Companys engagement in the Mutual Fund distribution business adds another dimension to its diversified portfolio, enabling it to cater to a wider range of financial services.

Human resources

The human resources department of GFL plays a pivotal role in driving the Companys success. The Company is fully committed to attracting and retaining highly skilled professionals through rigorous and meticulous recruitment processes. Employees receive comprehensive training and development programs that aim to empower them to excel in their respective roles. Employee welfare and well-being are of utmost importance, and the Company places significant emphasis on creating a safe and supportive work environment, fostering open communication and conducting regular feedback sessions. Moreover, GFL actively engages in initiatives that enhance employee engagement, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Additionally, the Company adheres strictly to all labour laws and regulations, maintaining a strong commitment to promoting fair treatment, diversity, and equal opportunities for its workforce.

5https://www.outlookindia.com/business/indian-mutual-fund-industry-resilient-despite-underperformance-in-q4-report-news-285247

6https://www.amfiindia.com/indian-mutual

7https://www.icicidirect.com/ilearn/mutual-fund/articles/mutual-funds-in-india

As of March 31, 2023, the Company has 5 employees.

Financial performance

Key standalone financial highlights

(H in Lakhs)

Particulars FY 2023 FY 2022
Revenue from operations 322.43 175.89
EBITDA 97.58 77.47
PBT 2,46,771.06* 146.98*
PAT 2,32,408.07 96.81
Net worth 2,63,644.96 31,215.55

*Includes exceptional items of INR 2,46,673.67 lakhs (Previous year 69.51 lakhs)

Key standalone financial ratios

H ( in Lakhs)

Particulars Formulas FY 2023 FY 2022
Current ratio (in times) Current assets/ Current liability 1.07 0.76
Operating profit margin (in %) EBIT/Total income 30.21% 35.52%
Net profit margin (in %) PAT/Total income 19.45% 12.52%
Return on net Worth (in %) PAT/Average net worth 88.15% 0.31%

After merger of the Groups subsidiary erstwhile INOX Leisure Limited and PVR Limited (now known as PVR INOX Limited), the Groups theatrical exhibition is discontinued from 01.01.2023 hence the financial ratios at consolidated are not comparable with the previous year.

At standalone basis there are no significant changes in key financial ratios (i.e. change of more than 25%) from previous year except for current ratio which has increased from 0.76 to 1.07.

Due to better operating income and increase in return on net worth from 0.31% to 88.15% mainly on account of exceptional item in the current year.

Risk management

Risk management holds paramount importance within the operational framework of GFL Limited. The Company embraces a comprehensive and proactive approach to identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks across all facets of its business operations. Regularly conducted rigorous risk assessments empower GFL to pinpoint vulnerabilities and devise robust risk mitigation strategies. The Company vigilantly monitors market fluctuations, industry trends, regulatory changes, and financial exposures to proactively address potential challenges. Additionally, GFL strategically maintains a diversified investment portfolio to effectively reduce the impact of market volatility. By prioritising risk management, the Company effectively safeguards its assets, ensures financial stability, and fosters a resilient organisational culture, further reinforcing its commitment to delivering reliable services amidst the ever-evolving landscape of the entertainment and financial services sectors.

Internal control system

The Company has formulated and executed internal financial control systems as necessitated by its business operations. These controls undergo regular scrutiny by internal auditors, encompassing all vital business functions. Notable audit findings, along with corresponding action plans, are reported to the Audit Committee, which oversees the Companys overall control environment. Due to its investment in subsidiaries, the Company faces minimal risks. However, given the Companys scale and nature, it takes a proactive approach to systematically recognise and address all potential business risks.

Cautionary statement

This document includes forward-looking statements regarding GFL Limiteds anticipated future events and financial as well as operating outcomes. As inherent in such statements, the Company has made assumptions and is exposed to inherent risks and uncertainties. There exists a significant risk that these beliefs, predictions, and other forward-looking statements may not materialise accurately. Readers are advised to exercise caution and refrain from placing undue reliance on these statements, as numerous factors could result in actual future results and events differing materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Consequently, this document is subject to a disclaimer and is qualified in its entirety by the assumptions, qualifications, and risk factors stated in GFL Limiteds Managements Discussion and Analysis in the Annual Report for FY 2022-23.