Dreamfolks Services Limited

Quarter ended Jun 2026

2026-08-13 Transcript PDF
Moderator

Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to the Q1 FY '27 Earnings Conference Call o f Dreamfolks Services Limited. As a reminder, all participant lines will be in a listen -only mode and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions after the presentation concludes. Should you need assistance during the conference call, please signal an operator by pressing star then zero on your touchtone phone. Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Ms. Liberatha Kallat. Thank you, and over to you ma'am.

Liberatha Kallat

Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us. We appreciate your continued interest and engagement with the company. Earlier today, we announced our financial results for the quarter ended 30th June 2026. The detailed financials and investor presentation have been made available on the stock exchanges as well as on our website, and we hope you have had an opportunity to review them. As we begin FY 27, I would like to reflect briefly on the journey we have undertaken over the past year. FY 26 was a year of significant disruption and structural change, particularly in the domestic airport lounge ecosystem. While this transition had a material impact on our financial performance, it has also accelerated a transformation that had been preparing for from being predominantly a lounge aggregator to becoming a broader travel and lifestyle benefit platform. The most important change we are seeing today is in the way our banking and enterprise partners are designing their customer value propositions. The focus is increasingly shifting from a single standardized benefit to a more personalized combination of exp eriences based on customer segments, spending behavior and usage patterns. An example of that is the launch of boarding - pass based travel benefit program for one of the largest banks’ premium credit card users. This enables customer to access relevant travel benefits seamlessly through their journey, while allowing our banking partners to deliver a more contextual and personalized customer experience. We believe such propositions are an important indication of ho w the card benefits ecosystem is evolving and where Dreamfolks can add value. This plays directly to Dreamfolks' strength given our ability to aggregate multiple services and configure them through our technology platform. We are, therefore, increasingly positioning ourselves not merely as a service provider, but as a benefit techno logy platform that enables clients to design, distribute and manage differentiated customer propositions across travel and lifestyle categories. This evolution is supported by favorable structural industry trends. India's credit card transaction value is expected to grow from approximately 21 trillion in FY 25 to 54 trillion in FY 30, representing a CAGR of around 21%. While transaction volumes are expected to increase to nearly 13 billion. At the same time, global travel and tourism continues to expand with the sector contributing approximately USD11.6 trillion to the global economy in 2025. APAC remains one of the key

growth engines for global aviation, while Southeast Asia's tourism market is expected to grow from approximately USD35.5 billion in 2025 to $67.4 billion by 2031. These trends reinforce our conviction that the long -term opportunity extends well beyond traditional airport lounge access. Against this background, we continue to broaden our service portfolio across the travel and lifestyle. During the quarter, we went l ive with several major banking programs covering global lounges, global meet and assist, airport transfer and premium members only clubs. These programs demonstrate how our platform is increasingly being used to create bundled and differentiated propositions rather than simply providing individual services. Our core network also continues to widen steadily. As of the end of the quarter, we h ad 1,100 + global airport lounges with more than 70 new outlets added during the quarter. Railway lounges remain an important growth opportunity for us with 100% coverage across the country. The acquisition of Ten 11 Hospitality has strengthened our operational control over the segment and enabled us to participate more directly in the growing premium railway travel ecosystem. With the continued modernization of India's railway infrastructure, we see significant pot ential for railway lounges to become an increasingly important component of the broader travel and lifestyle benefits ecosystem. Golf is another category where we continue to see significant headroom. We now provide access to more than 80 golf outlets in India and over 860 golf courses internationally, strengthening our ability to offer premium lifestyle benefits across geographies. Another area we are closely monitoring is our DF Club Membership program. The initial response has been encouraging, with number of memberships sold is showing steady quarter - on-quarter growth. While the initiative is still at an early stage, and we remain measured in our approach, the traction so far gives us confidence in its potential to evolve into meaningful direct- to-consumer and lifestyle engagement channel over time. Importantly, the contribution from business outside our traditional lounge offering has continued to increase. Our non -airport lounge services contributed approximately 33% of the top line during the quarter. This is a significant milestone for us because it demonstrates that the diversification strategy is no longer simply a strategic intent. It is increasingly reflected in the composition of our business. At the same time, our focus remains on deepening relat ionships with existing clients. Rather than viewing a partnership only through the lens of traditional lounge accesses, we are working with clients to introduce multiple categories of benefits through the same technology and distribution infrastructure. This enables us to increase wallet share, improve engagement and create stickiness within our client ecosystem. As we look ahead, our priorities remain clear : Scale our global lounge network and strengthen our position relative to global peers; Expand the railway lounge network through our subsidiary Ten11 Hospitality; Redefine credit card benefits in India by moving beyond the legacy domestic lounges proposition and offering a broader range of travel and lifestyle experiences.

The journey from a travel -focused aggregator to diversified travel and lifestyle benefit management technology platform is well underway. The progress we are seeing across global volumes, new client programs, network expansion and the increasing contributi on from non - lounge services gives us confidence that the foundation built during FY '26 are beginning to translate into more diversified and resilient business. Turning to our financial performance for the quarter ended 30th June 2026, the company reported revenue of INR39 crores. Gross profit from the quarter stood at negative INR0.9 crores, primarily impacted by the upfront minimum guarantee payment made to support the expansion of our global lounge business. We expect these investments to be recovered t hrough increased transaction volumes and scale-up of the global business over the coming quarters. The adjusted EBITDA after adjusting for noncash expense stood at negative INR16.4 crores. While near-term profitability has been temporarily affected due to the structural reset, our efforts to expand globally and enter new geographies, we believe the rapid adoption of new age lifestyle services and deeper integration in the global and Railway Lounge business segment, we should be able to grow bigger than ever. Despite these headwinds, our balance sheet remains strong and resilient. We closed the quarter with cash and cash equivalent of INR193.3 crores, providing significant financial flexibility to execute more strategic initiatives. Our net worth as on 30th June 2026 stands at a healthy INR300.4 crores, a position that underscores our ability to invest in growth while maintaining financial discipline through this period of transformation. We remain confident that the investments we have made in platform, people, partnerships and geographies will translate into meaningful value creation as industry conditions normalize and our newer revenue streams gain scale. I would now like to hand over to Shekhar for a detailed financial update.

Shekhar Sood

Thank you Liberatha. Good evening, everyone. I will now take you through our financial performance for the quarter ended 30th June 2026. We reported revenue of INR 39 crores compared to INR 52.6 crores in the last quarter and INR 348.9 crores in Q1 FY '26. While the adjusted EBITDA came in at a negative INR 16.4 crores compared to a negative INR 14.4 crores in the last quarter and INR 30.5 crores in Q1 2026. Profit after tax stood at negative INR 13.8 crores against negative INR 13 crores last quarter and INR 21.3 crores in Q1 2026. The recent impact on the profitability is primarily a result of lower revenue against our existing operating cost base. Once the high revenue contributing businesses in which we are currently investing begin to scale and unlock their full potential, we expect the incremental contribution to help us absorb our fixed overhead and improve the operating leverage. As of 30th June 2026, our net worth stood at INR300.4 crores, while cash and cash equivalents increased to INR193.3 crores from INR149 crores in the previous quarter, reflecting our continued focus on efficient working capital management. Our strong balance sheet and healthy liquidity position provide us with the financial flexibility to pursue our growth opportunities

while maintaining prudent capital allocation and financial discipline. With that, I open the floor for questions. Thank you.

Moderator

Thank you, sir. We will now begin the question -and-answer session. Our first question comes from the line of Sparsh Bedmutha with Perpetual Capital Advisors.

Perpetual Capital Advisors

Sir, my first question is regarding the unit economics on our railway lounge. I wanted to ask how much does it cost for us to open one and how long before it earns them back?

So in terms of the capex, if you're asking, then it depends from lounge to lounge, because every city has a different cost. Secondly, it also depends on the size of the lounges, because not every railway station, we actually get a same cost, I mean, same size. But however, on average, I would say that right now, starting from a 2,000 square feet lounge what we have, where we also have a 14,000 square feet lounges. So it depends from INR1.5 crores going up to maybe INR5 crores to INR6 crores is the capex investment right now. It is just the capex investment what I'm talking about. But apart from that, there are other investment, which is the security deposit and the initial advances, which are also being given to the railways.

Perpetual Capital Advisors

Okay. Got it. And also, you mentioned that railway lounges could be a INR500 crores opportunity over 4, 5 years. Could you like walk me through what needs to happen for that number to be like how many stations and how many customers per station are we expecting?

Management

So if you were to look at our Prime Minister speech, the kind of investment that they have envisaged, if that is happening over a period of next 3 to 4 years, I think we are confident and that is the number that we have actually calculated. And this INR500 crores in the next 5 years is very much possible considering that kind of investment.

Perpetual Capital Advisors

Okay. Got it. And one last question. How do the margin economics of ETT compared to what you historically earned in the India lounge business? Are they like structurally better?

Shekhar Sood

Yes. So almost we are in similar range.

So presently, actually, if you look at it, it is at a similar range. But however, as we mentioned to you that there are investment in terms of advances or we are also trying to ensure that because of the pricing -- price benefit, we are also giving them in advance amount to the lounge operators. So I would say that all that cost right now is considered. And I would say presently, you would not see a better margin compared to what it was earlier. But eventually, I would say that, yes, the margins would get better for Global.

Moderator

The next question comes from the line of Maruti Nandan Sarda, an Individual Investor.

So I would say that by next year, we will actually come to the breakeven thing, okay? Now if you actually ask me that what the model would be, but the model is that we are focusing more on the global lounges right now, okay? The focus is on global lounges. The focus is on golf and also the other services which we have introduced. Now as we all know that any new services which actually get introduced in the market, it takes time for the awareness to be built up. So I would say now if you see one of the largest banks, which has actually introduced the other services. Now these servic es were introduced in the month -- mid of May. So initially, when it was launched, I would say that there was communication from the bank, but I think the communication from the bank is not on the regular front, but it is only a word of mouth which actually stress and it takes time. So I would say that this particular service itself will take at least a year to pick up and we start seeing numbers coming from there. Similarly, it would be for the other services as well. Now coming to Global lounges, now -- the impact of the war has actually impacted our business, and that's the reason (for) the Global lounge (business), the numbers have dropped drastically compared to what we see in the last quarter. Otherwise, I think we could have actually made -- I mean I would say that in terms of the transactions, the number and the top line would have been much better if there was no war. So I would say that these are the impacts which have happened. But yes, Glo bal lounge, golf, other services would be the one which will grow eventually in a couple of quarters. And by next year, I would say that, yes, we would be in the breakeven.

Okay. My second question is in respect of the employee costs. I believe that in the current quarter, we had ESOP expenses. So can you just give me the breakdown? And will it continue in the ensuing quarters as well?

Shekhar Sood

So like when we talk about the ESOP cost, so frankly, its impact is very minimal. So if we talk about on a full year basis, the impact of those ESOPs which are issued is only INR14 lakhs. So that is not at all impacting. So if you see basically the variance that is appearing if you are comparing the current quarter number, so these will be more or less equivalent to what we have been doing in the previous quarter. So payroll cost, it almost stands there. In the last quarter, if you would have seen our commentary, then there was the reversal of the variable pay. So as a result, the number for March quarter was looking quite low.

Okay. So we can -- we will be continuing with the current quarter's number in the forthcoming quarters as well, right?

Shekhar Sood

Right, yes, almost in the similar manner, yes.

Okay. And can you just throw some light on the debtors? Like we had quite a big chunk outstanding at the end of previous quarter. So right now, what is the situation? And do we have anything which is more than 90 days old?

Shekhar Sood

So yes, there has been a lot of effort in terms of collecting dues from the receivables. So that's why you see the cash position of the company has quite improved. So that's what I said nearly

INR190-plus crores is there as compared to the previous numbers of nearly INR148 crores. So there has been a lot of work which is being done in that aspect, yes.

Shekhar Sood

So it's the balance sheet number. So we have just published only P&L number.

Sandeep Sonawane

Not to forget that we are dealing with all the banks. So frankly speaking, over a period of time, whatever you've seen, the collection that is absolutely from these institutions, and we don't see any risk here. Just to -- I mean, answer your question if there is in your mind.

Moderator

We have a follow -up question from the line of as Sparsh Bedmutha with Perpetual Capital Advisors.

Perpetual Capital Advisors

So I had one more question regarding the Club 2.0. Like what's the paid membership count or average revenue per user? And how is the retention so far?

Sandeep Sonawane

So yes, it's relatively new. I'll tell you why relatively new because while we launched it a few months back, the real effort in terms of broadcasting it and using social media has just started, point number one. In terms of average cost, I think if you were to look at it, we have 3, which is white, orange and black. So we are selling more of black, which is the high -end model where the cost is INR50,000 to the consumer. To answer your question, what would be the average? The average among all the 3 would be ballpark INR30,000 -- and we have just started. In fact, you will soon see the numbers getting published. We are significantly improving the numbers. So what we were doing versus what we have done even in the month of July or for that matter, June are significantly up. But yes, it's very miniscule as compared to the total revenue. But we will start publishing as and when we feel that it is significant impacting on the revenues.

Moderator

The next question comes from the line of Maruti Nandan Sarda, an Individual Investor.

My question belongs to the promoter holding that since the share price is hovering around very low level, so does promoters have any plan of increasing their shareholding considering that in the next couple of years, they are looking at a very bright future for the company.

Presently, I think there is no such plans in the promoter group because presently, I think the focus is completely on how to bring the business back into where we were. So I think the focus is completely on that. And I think it is also important that once we grow the business and to actually have the right strategic investors with us. I would say that, that is where the focus is.

Okay. So are we looking for any strategic investors right now to invest in our company?

As I presently told you that right now, our focus is completely on building and getting back into action where we have started. And I think it is not the right time for me to actually meet up, but it is always better that first we perform and show and then it would be better for me to go and

meet the investors. So right now, I would say that the complete focus is on building the business and nothing on this.

Moderator

Our next question comes from the line of Bala Murali Krishna, with Oman Investment Advisors. Please go ahead.

Just the opening remarks could you just clarify why there is a drop in revenue Q -o-Q. Is there any -- decrease in revenue from domestic side or any other specific reason is there.

As I told you that if you look at it, it is a drop in the Global lounge business. And the drop is drastically because of the war which is happening. So yes, internationally, the traffic is down, and that is one of the biggest reasons that why there is a drop in the revenue.

Okay. So any other further gains you finalized during this last quarter in this international in addition to the deals which we are running at even?

Sorry, your voice is not clear. Can you please repeat the question?

So internationally, have you gained any new customers in this last quarter, Q1 or similar to the Q4?

No. So we have gained customers, and I would say the clients in APAC. So we have a very large (card) network in Singapore, where we have already signed up and our program would be going live hopefully by end of this month or early next month. Our second one is in Indonesia, one of the largest bank in Indonesia. Also, we have also gone live there. There is also one of the bank in Singapore as well where we have signed and there is an integration right now with the bank going on. So yes, these are the 3 large clients which we have signed up for APAC.

Yes. That's great news. So on the Middle East, do we have any pipeline Dubai, Oman, Saudi, Qatar. These are -- some our competitors are very dominant seeing these countries. So do we have any pipeline or discussions with any other banks or coordinators or providers?

So as you are aware that we have acquired a Dubai-based company, which is ETT. Now because of the war, yes, the business is down in the Middle East. So that is one of the reasons that we are not able to move in the Middle East region right now.

Okay. Finally, on the EBITDA breakeven, I think we are planning by the H2 of FY '28. Do you stick to that or reduce the deals that are coming in line? So do you think that we can do that a little bit earlier also.

Presently, I would say that I would stick to what we have committed last time. If it happens earlier, for sure, we will also announce the same.

Moderator

The next question comes from the line of K. Sahu with K. Investments.

I have 2 questions. First, on the cash part. What explains the cash appreciation in the books by around INR44 crores? Is it a better realization that we had from the previous services we had provided? Because last quarter in the March, we had a debt position of INR134 crores, I guess.

So has there been any significant realization from there? And second would be on -- actually, I saw that generally Q1 is a season where we have a better Q -on-Q growth, like most of the -- in the past 3, 4 years, I saw that against the Q4, you have a better Q1 on a Q -on-Q basis. What explains this particular drop of INR56 crores to INR39 crores in revenues this quarter?

Shekhar Sood

Okay. So regarding your first question about the bank balances. So yes, as I explained earlier, there has been significant efforts in terms of collections. So you are right, there has been like collection of nearly INR40-plus crores, which is there from different customers.

Sandeep Sonawane

Yes, sorry. And regarding your second question on drop versus Q4, yes, relatively, yes, Q1 has been better as compared to Q4. But I think Liberatha did explain that a significant portion of our business is global now. And India outbound to Middle East contributes significantly in terms of traffic, overall traffic, we all are aware of it. So that has dropped because of the war, and that has impacted the volume.

So Indian business is not there and the international business is impacted by Middle East -- Western Asia. Is it the case?

Shekhar Sood

Yes. So in fact, our India business is, to an extent, compensating for the loss that is happening in Middle East.

If I'm allowed one more follow-up question. I see that there is a significant reduction in cost and the cost of services provided is approximately matching the revenue in this particular quarter. So will it be the run rate we will be going forward in Q2, Q 3? So even if we are not EBITDA positive, our cost of services would be matching our revenues at least?

Sandeep Sonawane

Yes. See, cost of service is a derivative of revenue. So yes, there is a drop in revenue. And hence, of course, there is a drop in terms of cost. And if you are aware that our margins, gross margins are going to be what they are. So the cost line and the revenue line will be in line.

Shekhar Sood

Yes. And as we explained this time, we have done like a few of the payments for MMG (Minimum Guarantee) . However, going forward, like there will be no such payment. So anyways, you will see positive margins.

Moderator

As there are no further questions from the participants. I would now like to hand the conference over to Ms. Liberatha Kallat for closing comments.

Thank you all for joining our earnings conference call today. We hope your queries have been addressed. For any further information, please reach out to our Investor Relations team. On behalf of the entire Dreamfolks family, I want to express our gratitude for your continued trust and patience through what has been a year of meaningful transformation. We look forward to sharing our progress with you in the quarters ahead. Thank you. Take care, and goodbye.

Moderator

Thank you. On behalf of Dreamfolks Services Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us, and you may now disconnect your lines. Thank you.