Leading computer education firm Aptech, controlled by ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, is planning to more than double the number of its franchisees to around 2,500 from around 1,200 spanning 43 countries over the next three years.
With over three decades experience in the skilling and non-formal education space, Aptech is the largest non-formal education firm in the country with presence in 43 markets.
The city-based company, which is clipping at 30-35 per cent in terms of revenue growth, now also hopes to double this over the next three years to around Rs 250 crore from the present Rs 116.5 crore in FY2016-17 on the back of the rising demand for media and entertainment content, which is "recession proof".
"Currently, we have 900 franchisees and around 300 own offices in 43 countries mostly in English knowing Africa and the Middle East. We've lined up a plan to more than double this to around 2,500 over the next three years, mostly in overseas markers," Aptech chief executive and managing director Anil Pant told PTI here during a media visit for its annual Carrer Quest graduation ceremony.
Pant, picked personally by Jhunjhunwala himself last July from TCS, with a mandate to sail the struggling company to safe shores, also has set a target of doubling the revenue to around Rs 250 crore and expects most of this revenue growth to come from its flagship media and entertainment verticals under the Arena Multimedia and the animation and VfX arm, the Maya Academy of Animation.
"With the way data is being consumed now, thanks to better affordability and speed, I am sure our growth will continue to come from the media and entertainment verticals, because I feel that these fully recession proof," Pant said.
Currently, 75 per cent of the revenue come from these two verticals with the rest coming in from software training, which includes hospitlaity, aviation, retail among others.
The company, which started with IT education through its Aptech Computer Education in 1986, it has successfully trained over 7 million students through in online/digital test and assessment, graphic designing and animation, VfX, aviation cinematics, travel and tourism, hospitality and retail and banking and finance. It is also powering the Lakme beauty academy.
That apart it is also into pre-school training under the Montana Preschool and English language training.
In July 2005, Jhunjhunwala acquired 10 per cent from original promoter S K Suresh and now holds along with his family more than 49 per cent in the company since April 2016.
For the year to March 2017, Aptech had reported an income of Rs 116.4 crore, up from Rs 89.11 crore a year ago, and a profit of Rs 9 crore which was down from Rs 10.2 crore a year ago. While for the June 2017 quarter it had a net loss of Rs 92 lakh on an income of Rs 31.12 crore.
The Aptech counter closed at Rs 284.50 on the BSE, taking its market capitalisation to Rs 1,135 crore.
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