# 1. Financial Performance ## A. Key Figures * Revenue: ₹6,406 lakhs H1 FY26 (+57% YoY) * EBITDA: ₹1,786 lakhs (+39% YoY) · EBITDA Margin: 27.87% (-366 bps YoY) * **PAT:** **₹13.05 Cr** (+36% YoY) · **PAT Margin:** 20.4% (-320 bps YoY) ## B. Revenue Growth * **Broad-Based Expansion:** Robust top-line growth fueled by strong performance across ticket sales, F&B, advertising, and private events. ## C. EBITDA & Margins * **Margin Pressure from Mix & Costs:** EBITDA margin contraction despite strong revenue growth, driven by higher operational and expansion-related costs and a shift in income mix toward lower-margin construction activity. * **High-Margin Streams Identified:** Convenience fees and VPF contribute disproportionately to profitability with margins of **80–100%** due to absence of cost or revenue sharing. * **Exhibition Margin Insight:** Effective EBITDA margin on exhibition revenue estimated at **~10%** after 20% royalty, assuming franchisees retain 50% margin. ## D. Cash Flow Trends * **Working Capital Drains OCF:** Operating cash flow lags significantly behind profits due to planned increases in inventory, receivables, and bulk procurement for new cinema rollouts. * **Receivables Pressure from Construction:** Receivable days have more than doubled since FY24, reaching **60 days by Sep-25**, primarily due to extended payment cycles in cinema construction despite timely settlements for operational income. * **Asset Reclassification:** ₹5 Cr advance to a premise owner reclassified from loans to **PP&E under 'assets under construction'**, aligning with capitalization policy for franchise development. * **Tech & Infrastructure Investment:** PP&E includes critical operational assets such as projectors, POS systems, and coffee machines, reflecting ongoing investment in cinema technology and infrastructure. --- # 2. Screen Expansion & Capacity ## A. Key Figures * **Total Portfolio (as of call):** **31 cinemas**, **83 screens**, **6,831 seats** across **9 states** * Projector Cost: ₹27–28 lakh average (post-renegotiation) · Spectra model at ₹17-18 lakh/unit * **Order Book:** **~200 screens** under LoI/franchise agreements in final stages ## B. Screens & Geographic Expansion * **Robust Growth Trajectory:** Strong double-digit screen additions in H1, with significant momentum in **Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities** where Connplex often holds first-mover advantage. * **Pan-India Scaling:** Strategic footprint across **9 states**, with new signings like **Siwan, Bhagalpur, and Ahmednagar** reinforcing dominance in underserved markets. * **Long-Term Market Opportunity:** India’s current **9,500 screens** pale in comparison to global peers, with potential for **20,000–25,000 new screens** driven by content demand and urban penetration. ## C. Operational & Construction Readiness * **Efficient Cinema Design:** Standardized **~7,000 sq. ft.** layout with **three 70–75 seat auditoriums** optimizes utilization and cost efficiency. * **Streamlined Deployment:** Centralized inventory management and pre-customization ensure brand consistency and rapid franchise rollouts. * **High Readiness in Pipeline:** Over **16 screens in H2 are already in licensing**, with **~18 near-operational**, signaling strong execution visibility. * **EPC Margin Strength:** In-house construction arm delivers **~30% margins**, enhancing project control and profitability. --- # 3. Revenue Mix & Streams ## A. Key Figures * Advertising Revenue: ₹112.38 Lakhs (+107% YoY) * **Average Ticket Price:** **₹243** (+6% YoY) · **F&B Spend Per Head:** **₹94** ## B. Revenue Composition & Recognition * **One-Time vs Recurring Mix:** Revenue split ~50:50 between high-margin **one-time cinema setup fees** and lower-margin recurring streams; long-term shift expected toward **royalty dominance** beyond 200 screens. * **Revenue Recognition Timing:** Income from construction recognized upon site completion, **even before operations begin**, with earnings spread across H1 and H2 based on project progress. * **Reporting vs Economic Reality:** Company books **100% of ticket revenue** (₹25 Cr) despite sharing 80% with franchisees; only **20% of F&B revenue** is recorded due to GST treatment, though royalty is 20% of franchisee-reported sales. ## C. Growth Drivers & Forward Outlook * **Scaling Royalty Base:** Operational royalty revenue expected to **double in H2** driven by rising screen count, with topline expanding proportionally as new screens go live. * **Diversified Expansion:** Advertising shows **strong double-digit growth**, while events and other ancillary streams poised for acceleration with increased footprint. * **Robust Pipeline:** Construction income to remain resilient over next two years due to **strong order book**, supporting near-term margins despite lower recurring contribution. --- # 4. Franchise & Operating Model ## A. Key Figures * **Franchise Fee:** **₹5 lakh per screen** (₹15 lakh per cinema), upfront and non-refundable * **CapEx:** **₹10–12 crore** per traditional multiplex · **Lean model** for Connplex with significantly lower outlay * **OpEx:** **₹45 lakh/month** for multiplexes · **Connplex rental: ~₹4 lakh/month** ## B. Franchise Fee Structure * **One-Time, Not Recurring:** Franchise fees are **upfront, non-refundable payments** per screen, not a recurring revenue stream, countering expectations of annuity-like income. * **Asset-Light with Strategic Ownership:** Despite the asset-light model, **projectors in all cinemas—including franchisee-run ones—are retained on the company’s books**, ensuring control over critical technology. * **Centralized Procurement Advantage:** Bulk sourcing of key items (chairs, ACs, sound systems) enables **prime cost efficiency**, though local procurement in remote areas (e.g., Bihar) is **more expensive**. * **Customization for Brand Control:** Key assets like chairs and curtains are **customized with the Connplex logo in-house**, requiring advance planning and reinforcing brand standardization. ## C. Revenue Sharing Terms * **80:20 Revenue Split:** Connplex retains **20% royalty** on ticketing, F&B, and advertising revenue, with franchisees receiving 80%, aligning incentives while ensuring scalable income. * **Penalty Clauses to Prevent Churn:** Agreements include **penalties to deter exits**, and the company now actively drives deal execution pre-handover to reduce the risk of franchisee attrition post-profitability. ## D. Brand Consistency Controls * **Standardized Replication Model:** Franchisees choose from **three predefined models**, and cinemas are built using **company-owned designs, SOPs, and location-specific guidelines**, ensuring McDonald’s-like consistency. * **Mini-Theatre Differentiation:** Connplex operates as a **compact, mini-theatre format**, distinct from larger traditional players like PVR, enabling deployment in smaller or underserved markets. * **Multi-Layered Franchisee Control:** Long-term stability is enforced through **penalty-backed agreements**, company oversight of real estate, finance, and tech, ensuring alignment and retention. --- # 5. Customer & Demand Metrics ## A. Key Figures * **Viewership:** **12.16 lakh** H1FY26 (+69% YoY) * **Occupancy Rate:** **32%** H1FY26 (+200 bps YoY) * **Average Ticket Price (ATP):** **₹243** (+6% YoY) ## B. Occupancy Trends * **Premium Experience Drives Demand:** Growth in occupancy and viewership underpinned by focus on **recliner seating, advanced sound, and HD projection**, enhancing the in-theatre experience. * **Strategic Market Expansion:** Targeting **underserved towns** with no or outdated cinema infrastructure avoids multiplex saturation and unlocks new demand pools. * **Pricing Power Intact:** ATP expansion reflects confidence in superior customer experience, with pricing aligned to industry average and room for further increases. ## C. Viewer Growth * **Content-Led Box Office Momentum:** Indian box office grew at a strong double-digit pace, fueled by **15+ films crossing ₹100 Cr**, highlighting the resurgence of theatrical demand driven by quality content and star power. * **Franchisee Confidence Rising:** **~25% repeat franchisee ratio** across 88 screens signals strong brand trust and scalable operating model. * **Regional & Diverse Content Gaining Traction:** Strong performance of **Gujarati and regional films**, often scheduled off-peak, diversifies revenue and captures niche audiences. ## D. Private Events Uptake * **Alternative Revenue Streams Scaling:** **Over 300 private events hosted last year**, including corporate rentals, boost off-season utilization and offset OTT-related volatility. * **Flexible Venue Utilization:** Smart scheduling of **re-releases and private screenings** enhances asset productivity and strengthens cinema as a community hub. --- # 6. Risks & Regulatory Factors ## A. Licensing & Operational Delays * **Project Timeline Risk:** Construction typically takes 3–4 months post-possession, with a potential lag to operations due to licensing dependencies. * **Election-Related Delays:** Cinemas in **Patna, Bihar** are construction-complete but await key licenses pending election conclusion. ## B. GST Compliance Complexity * **F&B Revenue Structuring:** F&B revenue is retained in franchisees’ books to avoid **18% GST** and double taxation, as no GST credit is available on F&B despite **5% GST** at their level. * **Favorable Ticket Tax Treatment:** GST credit is available on ticket revenue, creating a more efficient tax structure compared to F&B. --- # 7. Guidance & Outlook ## A. Key Figures * **Long-Term Target:** **~1,000 screens** by **2030** · **150 screens** by end of **2027** ## B. Screen Expansion & Capital Deployment * **Accelerated Ramp-Up:** Higher IPO fund utilization expected in H2 FY26, with screen additions accelerating through H2 and into FY27, including **41 new screens** targeted for H2. * **Near-Term Execution:** **~20–22 screens** to launch in next 3–4 months, with potential to exceed target if market conditions remain favorable. * **Strategic Focus:** Company to remain **exclusively focused on cinema expansion** over the next 3–4 years, with no plans for gaming or other entertainment verticals despite prior concept exploration. ## C. Revenue Growth Trajectory * **Content-Driven Demand:** Strong upcoming multi-language blockbuster pipeline—including *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, *Border 2*, and *De De Pyaar De 2*—expected to sustain **robust footfalls** and revenue momentum. * **Pricing Power Intact:** Ticket prices to rise **year-on-year** due to inflation and dynamic pricing; no plans to undercut PVR, maintaining pricing discipline. * **Margin Sustainability:** Current margins expected to hold, underpinned by **asset-light model** and growing contributions from construction and franchisee fees. * **Growth Visibility:** Revenue growth anticipated to remain strong in FY26 and into FY27, with H2 potentially stronger due to festival season content quality.