EFC (I) — Q4 FY24 earnings call

Call held 18 Jun 2024

Management summary

EFC (I) Limited reported robust financial performance for FY24, with significant growth in net profit and sales, driven by its diversified business model including managed office spaces, interior fit-out (DNB), and furniture manufacturing. The company is aggressively expanding its seat capacity and is exploring AIF and REIT structures to control real estate assets, aiming for sustained profitable growth and market leadership in the real estate service sector.

Highlights

  • Net profit surged 312% to ₹63.17 crores in FY24.

  • Total sales increased to ₹428.78 crores in FY24.

  • EBITDA reached ₹191.92 crores in FY24.

  • FY24 consolidated EBITDA margin was 44.76% and PAT margin was 14.76%.

  • Current seat capacity stands at 43,000, with a target to reach 92,000 by March 2026.

  • DNB division secured a signed order book of ₹132 crores, with an additional ₹60 crores under negotiation.

  • QoQ billing seats rose by 10.7%, and YTD growth in seats was 41.54%.

Key financials

  1. Revenue ₹428.78 Cr
  2. Net Profit ₹63.17 Cr +312%YoY
  3. EBITDA ₹191.92 Cr
  4. EBITDA Margin 44.8%
  5. PAT Margin 14.8%

What they filed

Q1 FY27: revenue up 28.6%, net profit up 51.1% against the same quarter last year.

₹ Cr · quarterly
Line itemQ2 FY25Q3 FY25Q4 FY25Q1 FY26Q2 FY26Q3 FY26Q4 FY26Q1 FY27
Revenue166 177 211 220 255 +54%270 +53%293 +39%283 +29%
EBITDA79 93 109 102 111 +41%112 +20%144 +32%123 +21%
Net profit37 40 48 47 57 +54%62 +55%69 +44%71 +51%
How to read this

₹ crore, as filed. The percentage beside a figure is the change against the same quarter a year earlier — never the quarter before, which would make every seasonal business look like it collapses and booms each year.

Segment breakdown

Share of Revenue
₹422 Cr Total
  • Rental Segment ₹263 Cr 62.3%
  • DNB Business ₹113 Cr 26.8%
  • Furniture Business ₹46 Cr 10.9%

Guidance & targets

Capacity

  • Total Seat Capacity Capacity · by March 2026 · High confidence 92,000 seats
    The company planned to increase its seat capacity from the present level to 92,000 seats by March 2026.

    — Moderator

  • Total Seat Capacity Capacity · by end of FY25 · High confidence 65,000+ seats
    By FY25, we should be closing at around our target is to close around 65,000 plus seats that we like to achieve by then.

    — Management

  • Total Seat Capacity Capacity · by September · High confidence 50,000 to 55,000 seats
    So just to give you a bit of trajectory, I mean as we speak already, by September we'll be touching around 50,000 to 55,000 seats which are already contracted in the sense that you know they are already in the development or you know beginning to get into development.

    — Management

  • Total Seat Capacity Capacity · by March (FY25) · High confidence 65,000 seats
    So, by September we'll be touching between 50 to 55 and by March certainly would be crossing 65,000 seats.

    — Management

Revenue

  • Furniture Business Revenue Potential Revenue · Medium confidence 300 to 400 crores
    Umesh ji in one of his interviews has mentioned that the revenue potential for furniture business can be 300 to 400 crores

    — Dhruv Mukesh Bajaj

  • DNB Order Book Translation to Revenue Revenue · Q1 and Q2 · High confidence
    They will get translated in revenue in the first and second quarter, both coming together because you know there are gestation period involved. So, it will take I mean in both this quarter you will see the results capturing these numbers.

    — Management

Operational

  • Furniture Manufacturing Unit Operational Operational · FY2025 · High confidence FY2025
    our interior fit out division is already witnessing an upward trend. As we speak, we have already become a kind of a preferred vendor to lot of large corporates and organizations across and we are delivering successfully on a timely basis with quality services to clients like TCS, Coforge and many more, which is all made marking a significant milestone for our group to go to the next level not just this vertical complementing our existing legacy business of managed office space, but creating a SPU which itself is profitable and creating its mark in the industry.

    — Nikhil Bhuta

  • NSE Listing Operational · in the coming financial year · Medium confidence
    Well, yeah, I mean we're working on it, obviously and we target internally that in the coming financial year, we should be, you know targeting listing on NSE.

    — Management

Occupancy

  • Occupancy Level for New Centers Occupancy · within next three months · High confidence 80% plus
    So, I mean generally, you know our targets are that you know by the time our development work finishes in about next three months' time, we occupy you know around 80% plus of the capacity

    — Management

Growth

  • Seat Capacity Growth Rate Growth · year-on-year · High confidence 75%
    we would definitely be increasing our seat base, you know from year-on-year basis with 75% growth rate at least in the seat capacity.

    — Management

Capex

  • CapEx Cost per Seat Capex · High confidence ₹50,000
    So, CapEx cost per seat for us is around 50,000. That's what we kind of estimate internally and that's what the target we really have.

    — Management

  • Furniture Part of CapEx per Seat Capex · High confidence ₹30,000
    So out of 50,000, if broadly, if you look at it about around 60%, which is, you know roughly around, let's say around 30,000 goes towards the furniture part of it.

    — Management

Capacity Utilization

  • Furniture Division Capacity Utilization Capacity Utilization · during the first year · Medium confidence 60 to 80%
    I think our ability to achieve a reasonable capacity of more than 60 to 80% is pretty much possible during the first year itself.

    — Management

Margin

  • DNB Division Net Margins Margin · High confidence 13 to 15%
    in office spaces development we probably made between, let's say around 13 to 15% on a net level

    — Management

  • DNB Division Net Margins (Specialized Contracts) Margin · High confidence 15-16%
    when you go into those specialized contracts of R&D centers and laboratories etc. and it increases by 5-6% for sure. So average out to we certainly would be in a position to you know achieved 15-16% of margins that we are even right now also have targeted this year.

    — Management

  • Furniture Manufacturing EBITDA Margin Margin · High confidence 40%
    the manufacturing of furniture as our MD - Mr. Umesh Sahay said that you know will definitely contribute that level of turnover. But the margin level would be you know easily would be around 40% that on an EBITDA level, that would be making under this division.

    — Management

  • Rental Space EBITDA Margin Margin · High confidence 30 to 35%
    When it comes to our rental space business, the margin level or an EBITDA level you know is between 30 to 35%

    — Management

  • DNB EBITDA/PAT Margin Margin · High confidence 16 to 17%
    the recoverability on an EBITDA level there is about 16 to 17% on a DNB division.

    — Management

  • Blended PAT Margin Margin · going forward · High confidence 15 to 20%
    So, on a PAT level going forward, again it will remain between 15 to 20% with the inclusion of furniture division, the PAT you know contribution would also increase on a group level.

    — Management

Order Book

  • DNB Division Signed Contracts Order Book · High confidence 132 crores
    So, on the DNB division, I have already signed contracts of 132 crores, which includes contracts from Coforge, TCS and then many other organizations

    — Management

  • DNB Division Contracts under Documentation Order Book · High confidence 60 odd crores
    and they're about 60 odd crores or contracts under documentations and negotiation while we speak

    — Management

Risks & concerns

  • Working capital blockage in DNB and furniture segments due to longer receivable cycles and retention monies

    medium

    Receivable cycles for DNB and furniture are 90-120 days, with retention monies involved in large contracts, leading to working capital blockage.

    Management acknowledged

  • Challenges in achieving 100% capacity utilization for new furniture manufacturing unit in the first year

    low

    Management expects 60-80% utilization in the first year, leveraging internal demand from managed office business, rather than full 100%.

    Analyst acknowledged

  • Regulatory complications for virtual offices

    low

    EFC is not currently pursuing virtual offices due to legal and other complications, which they haven't fully evaluated yet.

    Management acknowledged

Areas of evasion (2)

  • Specific AUM targets for AIF/REIT structures
  • Detailed legal aspects of virtual offices

Q&A highlights

2 direct
AIF and REIT business models and their impact on EFC India Limited's financials Partial
the operation of this assets would be done by EFC India Limited only. So, the whatever that revenue that will be generating from operation of the assets which we will be charging a fee to the AIF for operating, managing and marketing those assets, right. And those fees will directly add to our bottom line.

Reveals a new strategic direction to control real estate assets and generate fee-based income, potentially enhancing profitability, though specific details are deferred.

Asked by Sahil from Columbus Capital

Role and funding of the new subsidiary, EFC Estate Private Limited Direct
EFC Estate Private Limited will definitely look for investment making such strategic investments into IT parks or such commercial properties that we feel where there is a, you know, an upside on its own from the investment point of view and also another upside in terms of securing rights for managing those assets either through getting the lease out rights or otherwise. ... At present, we are planning to use our internal accruals because we are not going very heavy on this investment.

Clarifies the subsidiary's role in strategic asset acquisition for long-term management rights and indicates initial funding will be from internal accruals.

Asked by Dhruv Mukesh Bajaj from Smartsync Investment Advisors Service

CapEx cost per seat and reasons for EFC's lower cost compared to competitors Direct
So, CapEx cost per seat for us is around 50,000. That's what we kind of estimate internally and that's what the target we really have. ... we obviously number one and obviously that we have a large huge purchasing capability and that is where we do quite a bit of you know sourcing is one of the key factors when it comes to you know maintaining your cost on a substantially lower level.

Highlights EFC's competitive advantage in cost efficiency through strong purchasing power and in-house development, contributing to higher margins.

Asked by Nitin Devariya from Prithvi Finnmark

3 min read 6 chapters

Detailed narrative

Robust FY24 Financial Performance

EFC (I) Limited delivered strong financial results for FY24, with net profit soaring 312% to ₹63.17 crores and total sales reaching ₹428.78 crores. The company's EBITDA for the year stood at ₹191.92 crores, translating to a consolidated EBITDA margin of 44.76% and a PAT margin of 14.76%. This impressive performance underscores the company's commitment to profitable growth and margin protection, reflecting resilience and strategic focus.

Strategic Diversification and Segment Contribution

The company's diversified business model includes managed office spaces, interior fit-out (DNB), and furniture manufacturing. In FY24, the rental segment contributed ₹263 crores (62.2% of total revenue), the DNB business ₹113 crores (27%), and the nascent furniture business ₹46 crores (11%). Management highlighted that the DNB division has a signed order book of ₹132 crores, with an additional ₹60 crores under negotiation, expected to translate into revenue in Q1 and Q2 FY25.

Aggressive Capacity Expansion and Growth Outlook

EFC (I) currently manages 43,000 seats and aims to significantly increase this to 65,000+ seats by the end of FY25, further targeting 92,000 seats by March 2026. The company reported a 10.7% quarter-on-quarter rise in billing seats and a 41.54% year-to-date growth. Management expects to achieve 80%+ occupancy within 3 months of a center's development completion, with a typical gestation period of 4-6 months, and targets a 75% year-on-year seat capacity growth rate.

Cost Efficiency and Margin Drivers

EFC (I) maintains a competitive CapEx cost per seat of approximately ₹50,000, with about 60% (₹30,000) allocated to furniture and fixtures. This cost efficiency is attributed to strong purchasing capability and in-house development, enabling the company to maintain lower overall costs. Segment-wise, the furniture manufacturing division is projected to achieve an EBITDA margin of around 40%, while the rental space business targets 30-35% EBITDA margin. The DNB division expects 16-17% EBITDA/PAT margin, with specialized contracts reaching 15-16% net margins, contributing to a blended PAT margin target of 15-20% going forward.

AIF and REIT Initiatives for Asset Control

The company is actively exploring AIF (Alternate Investment Fund) and REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) structures to gain control over real estate assets it manages and operates. While specific AUM targets and detailed structures are being finalized and will be shared in future calls, management indicated that EFC India Limited would charge a fee to the AIF for operating, managing, and marketing these assets, directly adding to its bottom line. The new subsidiary, EFC Estate Private Limited, will focus on strategic investments in IT parks and commercial properties to secure management rights, funded initially by internal accruals.

Working Capital Management and Future Plans

Management acknowledged working capital blockage in the DNB and furniture segments due to longer receivable cycles (90-120 days) and retention monies in large contracts. Despite this, the company plans to fund initial strategic investments through internal accruals. EFC (I) aims to list on the NSE in the coming financial year and continues to focus on expanding its footprint across major Indian cities, leveraging technology, and maintaining sustainability and innovation to become a significant player in the real estate service sector.

This is an AI-generated summary of a publicly available earnings call transcript.