Mathew Cyriac and Elimath Advisors Private Limited have significantly increased their combined stake in Hindustan Media Ventures Limited (HMVL), a move that signals growing investor interest in the media company.

Key Highlights

• Stake Increase: The combined holding of Mathew Cyriac and Elimath Advisors has risen from 5.23% to 6.51%.
• Acquisition Details: 9,42,570 shares were acquired through open market transactions.
• Disclosure Trigger: The disclosure was made following the addition of Elimath Advisors as a person acting in concert with Mathew Cyriac.
• Transaction Complexity: The 1.28% change in shareholding involved both purchases and sales.

Transaction Breakdown

This strategic move by Mathew Cyriac and Elimath Advisors comes at a time when Hindustan Media Ventures Limited has reported a strong financial performance in its recent quarterly results. The company's earnings call transcript indicates that HMVL has seen growth in both operating revenue and profitability on an annual and sequential basis.

The company's Print business, which includes HMVL, has shown robust growth with a 10% increase in ad revenues year-over-year. This growth, combined with the company's focus on cost management, has led to an expansion of operating margins.

While the specific reasons behind Cyriac and Elimath Advisors' increased investment were not disclosed, the move aligns with HMVL's positive financial trajectory. The company's strategic adaptations across business verticals, including targeted content initiatives in its Digital business and reinforcing the value of its core Print portfolio, may have contributed to the investors' decision to increase their stake.

As Hindustan Media Ventures Limited continues to navigate the evolving media landscape, this increased investment from Mathew Cyriac and Elimath Advisors may be seen as a vote of confidence in the company's future prospects and strategic direction.

Investors and market watchers will likely keep a close eye on any further developments or strategic moves by Hindustan Media Ventures Limited, as well as any additional stake changes by major shareholders in the coming months.

Hindustan Media Ventures , a leading media company, has reported a solid performance for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026, with growth in both operating revenue and profitability. The company's consolidated financial results show improvements on both annual and sequential bases.

Key Financial Highlights

Business Segment Performance

Print Business

The Print segment demonstrated strong growth, with advertising revenues increasing by 10% year-over-year to INR 278.00 crores. The total operating revenue for the Print business grew by 7%, while the operating EBITDA nearly doubled to INR 40.00 crores compared to the same period last year. The EBITDA margins in this segment expanded by an impressive 500 basis points.

English Print

• Ad Revenue: INR 154.00 crores (+8% YoY, +10% QoQ)
• Circulation Revenue: -15% YoY, +20% QoQ

Hindi Print

• Ad Revenue: +13% YoY, +7% QoQ
• Circulation Revenue: Flat YoY and QoQ

Radio Business

The Radio segment continues to face challenges, with revenue slightly declining to INR 32.00 crores compared to the same period last year. However, there was a 4% sequential growth. The operating EBITDA for this segment was negative INR 4.00 crores.

Digital Business

The Digital segment, primarily consisting of the OTTplay business, showed promising growth:

• Operating Revenue: +10% YoY, +8% QoQ
• Operating EBITDA: Negative INR 30.00 crores

Strategic Initiatives and Outlook

Hindustan Media Ventures is adapting to the evolving media landscape by:

1. Driving the Digital business through targeted content initiatives.
2. Reinforcing the value of the core Print portfolio.
3. Sharpening the focus of the Radio business on integrated formats and immersive audience experiences.

The company reported a significant reduction in subscriber acquisition costs for its OTTplay platform in September, along with an increase in subscriber numbers and improved renewal rates.

Management Commentary

Piyush Gupta, Group CFO of Hindustan Media Ventures, commented on the results: "We've got a good set of numbers. We will always strive to bring in the best performance and the best numbers. At this point in time, what looks like that we will be able to repeat the performance and look forward to seeing you in the next quarter's call."

The company remains committed to informing, educating, and entertaining its large and diverse audience while navigating the challenges and opportunities in the media industry.

Newsprint Prices and Future Outlook

Regarding newsprint prices, which are a significant cost factor for the Print business, the company noted that current prices are in the lowest quartile of the commodity cycle. While there may be a gradual increase in prices according to industry estimates, Hindustan Media Ventures has sufficient inventory at present and is in discussions with suppliers for forward buying.

As Hindustan Media Ventures continues to adapt to the changing media landscape, it remains focused on leveraging its strengths across print, radio, and digital platforms to drive growth and profitability in the coming quarters.