Towels & rugs propel 21% surge in Q1FY'15 Welspun revenue

For the first quarter of fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, Welspun India Ltd, textile division of US$3 billion Mumbai-based Welspun Group reported a 21 percent growth in revenue, while EBITDA was up 37 percent and PAT rose 17 percent, all from a year ago period. 

 

Welspun India recorded revenue of Rs. 11,467 million in the quarter under review versus Rs. 9,446 million in the comparable quarter of previous fiscal, up 21 percent year-on-year led by strong volume growth, especially in towels and rugs.

 

Operational EBITDA surged 24 percent to Rs. 2,506 million against Rs. 2,013 million in Q1FY’14. Operational EBITDA margin improved to 21.9 percent in Q1FY’15 as compared to 21.3% in Q1FY’14 and 18.6% in Q4FY’14. Depreciation for the quarter stood at Rs. 686 million in Q1FY’15 as compared to Rs. 415 million in Q1FY’14. 

 

Finance cost at Rs. 713 million is higher y-o-y at Rs. 558 million in Q1FY’14 on account of a higher debt taken for the backward integration capex as well as working capital and higher working capital interest cost due to discontinuation of interest subvention.

 

Profit after Tax after minorities and associates grew 17% y-o-y to Rs. 1,050 million in Q1FY’15 against Rs. 899 million in Q1FY’14. Net worth at the end of Q1FY’15 stood at Rs. 12,197 million compared to Rs. 11,097 million at the end of previous fiscal year. 

 

At the end of the quarter under review, gross debt stood at Rs. 30,069 million against Rs.30,293 million at the end of the previous fiscal year 2013-14 and gross long term debt stood at Rs. 18,960 million compared to Rs. 18,944 million at end of previous fiscal year. 

 

As on 30th June 2014, net debt stood at Rs. 27,260 million against Rs. 26,635 million at end of FY’14 which implies a net debt/equity of 2.23x vis-à-vis 2.40x at end of fiscal year 2013-14. The annualized net debt / operational EBITDA stood at 2.72x.

 

Welspun also revealed that the modernisation, expansion and vertical integration project, which is currently underway, is on schedule.

 

Speaking about the performance, Mr. B.K. Goenka, Chairman, Welspun India Ltd., said, “We continue to tread steadily on the growth path while also improving our profitability.  We have several levers for growth such as new markets, new products and new channels, which will help us maintain our leadership position in the home textile category.  Our ongoing capex will also help in maintaining our quality and scale leadership.”

 

Welspun India Ltd is among the top three home textile manufacturers in the world and the largest home textile company in Asia. With a distribution network in more than 50 countries and manufacturing facilities in India, it is the largest exporter of home textile products from India.