17 April 2013
Update |Sector: Media
Zee Entertainment
CMP: INR200
TP: INR 232
Neutral
Concerns on Essel Group PE fund investments unfounded; cash
utilization a focus area
(Z IN, CMP INR200, Mkt cap USD3.5b, TP INR232, 16% upside, Neutral)
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Zee Entertainment has issued a clarification relating to a media article which
claimed that it is the principal sponsor and anchor investor in a INR10b real
estate private equity fund
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Zee Entertainment has clarified that it it not the sponsor or investor of “India
Asset Growth Fund” registered by the Essel Group
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However, the board of direcotors have given an in‐principle approval to invest in
high‐yield debt securities of unrelated real estate entities, with adequate
security cover, upto a maximum of INR1b. As on date, INR290m has been
committed for the same.
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Cash utilization remains in focus for Zee given strong balance sheet and FCF
generation. As of September 2012 Zee had cash and current investments of
~INR10b (INR10.5/sh).
‐
While dividend pay‐out is currently at ~25%, share buy‐back program has
achieved limited success as stock price remained above the ceiling of INR140/sh
during past three quarters. Out of maximum outlay of INR2.8b for the share
buy‐back commenced on April 23
rd
2012, Zee has been able to utilize only
INR0.6b (during 1QFY13).
ZEE: Financial and valuation summary (INR b)
Extract from media article
The $4‐billion Essel Group has launched a Rs 1,000‐crore real estate private equity
(PE) fund as part of its asset management foray. The fund will have a corpus of Rs
500 crore, with an option to have an additional Rs 500 crore.
Subhash Chandra‐promoted media company Zee Entertainment is the principal
sponsor and anchor investor in the PE fund. Zee has put in Rs 100 crore and
Chandra’s family office trust gave Rs 100 crore as part of the initial closure of the
fund, which took place last week, said Amit Goenka, managing director and chief
executive of Essel Financial Services, the new financial services arm of Essel Group.
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