SIMPLIFY YOUR DIGITAL LIFE INDEX LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED CORPORATE INFORMATION 001 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
Forward looking statement Registered Off ice Board of Directors Plot No.7A, Road No.12, MLA Colony, Banjara Hills, Mr. M Suresh Kumar Reddy In this Annual Report, we have disclosed Hyderabad - 500 034 Telangana, India. Mr. Vijay Kancharla forward-looking information to enable investors Phone: +91 (40) 4567 8999 FAX: +91 (22) 66459677 Mr. M Vijaya Bhasker Reddy to comprehend our prospects and take CIN: L64203TG1999PLC030996 Mr. Subrato Saha investment decisions. This report and other Email: [email protected] Mr. Michael Loren Mauldin statements - written and oral – that we www.lycoscorp.com Mr. Y Ramesh Reddy periodically make contain forward-looking Mr. Raghunath Allamsetty statements that set out anticipated results based Mrs. S.V Rajyalaxmi INDEX on the management’s plans and assumptions. We have tried wherever possible to identify such statements by using words such as ‘anticipate’, SUBSIDIARIES ‘estimate’, ‘expects’, ‘projects’, ‘intends’, ‘plans’, ‘believes’, and words of similar substance in Get Media Mexico S.A. DE CV Online Media Solutions Limited (Oridian) connection with any discussion of future Presidente Masaryk No. 111, 1er. Piso, Col Sapir 3 Herzlia 46733, performance. We cannot guarantee that these Chapultepec, Morales, Mexico D.F. PO Box 12637, Israel. forward-looking statements will be realized, although we believe we have been prudent in International Expressions Inc (VoloMP) Dream ad S.A, Panama Corporate Information 01 assumptions. The achievements of results are 108 West, 13th Street, Wilmington, Av. Samuel Lewis y Calle 50, subject to risks, uncertainties, and even Delaware 19801, USA. Panama city, Panama. inaccurate assumptions. Should known or New during the year 04 unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or Ybrant Digital Servicos De Publicidade LTDA LGS Global FZE should underlying assumptions prove Chairman’s perspective 06 inaccurate, actual results could vary materially 12995, Andar 18 Sala 36, 04.578-000, Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone, from those anticipated, estimated, or projected. Brooklin Novo, Sao Paulo, SP. Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Readers should keep this in mind. We Profile - Board of Directors 08 undertake no obligation to publicly update any Ybrant Digital (Brasil) Limited Frontier Data Management Inc (MediosOne) forward-looking statements, whether as a result 188721, 333, North Bridge Road, #08-00, 108 West, 13th Street, Wilmington, Financial Highlights 12 of new information, future events or otherwise. KH KHEA Building, Singapore. Delaware 19801, USA. Dream ad S.A , Argentina Dyomo Corporation Notice 27 Av. Corrientes, 327 Piso 11, 16192, Coastal Highway, Lewes, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Delaware 19958-9776, County of Sussex, USA Director's Report 33 Ybrant Media Acquisition Inc Dream ad S.A , Chile 1201, Orange St, Suite 600, Wilmington, Padre tMariano 103 Of. 207, 47 Management Discussion & Analysis New Castle County, Delaware, 19801, USA. Providencia Santiago de Chile, Chile. Report on Corporate Governance Yreach Media Pvt Ltd Dream ad Uruguay, S.A, 51 Plot No.7A, Road No.12, MLA Colony, Banjara Ellauri 357, Of. 50, 2Piso, Montevideo, Hills, Hyderabad - 500 034 AP, India. Uruguay CP. 11300. 62 Standalone Financial Statements Max Interactive Pty Ltd 5 Kings Lane, Darlinghurst, 89 Consolidated Financial Statements NSW 2010, Australia
Bankers Auditors Axis Bank Limited M/s. P. MURALI & CO Canara Bank Chartered Accountants, State Bank of India 6-3-655/2/3, Somajiguda, ICICI Bank Limited Hyderabad - 500 082, Telangana, India Chief Financial Officer CA Y. Srinivasa Rao Registrar and Share Transfer Agent Aarthi Consultants Private Limited, Company Secretary 1-2-285, Domalguda, CS K Anusha Hyderabad-500 029, Telangana, India Phone: +91 (40) 2763 8111, +91 (40) 2763 4445, +91 (40) 2764 2217 Email: [email protected] ; Fax:+91 (40) 2763 2184 001 INDEX LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED CORPORATE INFORMATION 001 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
Forward looking statement Registered Office Board of Directors Plot No.7A, MLA Colony, Road No.12, Banjara Hills, Mr. M Suresh Kumar Reddy In this Annual Report, we have disclosed forward- Hyderabad - 500 034 Telangana, India. Mr. Vijay Kancharla looking information to enable investors to comprehend Phone: +91 (40) 4567 8999 FAX: +91 (22) 66459677 Mr. M Vijaya Bhasker Reddy our prospects and take investment decisions. This CIN: L64203TG1999PLC030996 Mr. Y Ramesh Reddy report and other statements - written and oral – that we Email: [email protected] Mr. Raghunath Allamsetty periodically make contain forward-looking statements www.lycos.com that set out anticipated results based on the Mrs. S.V Rajyalaxmi Reddy management’s plans and assumptions. We have tried Mr. Subrato Saha Mr. Michael Loren Mauldin
INDEX wherever possible to identify such statements by using words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘estimate’, ‘expects’, ‘projects’, ‘intends’, ‘plans’, ‘believes’, and words of similar substance in connection with any discussion of future performance. We cannot guarantee that these SUBSIDIARIES forward-looking statements will be realized, although we Ybrant Media Acquisition Inc Online Media Solutions Limited (Oridian) believe we have been prudent in assumptions. The achievements of results are subject to risks, 1201, Orange St, Suite 600, Wilmington, Sapir 3 Herzlia 46733, uncertainties, and even inaccurate assumptions. New Castle County, Delaware, 19801, USA. PO Box 12637, Israel. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove International Expressions Inc (VoloMP) Dream ad S.A, Panama Corporate information 01 inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from 108 West, 13th Street, Wilmington, av. Samuel Lewis y Calle 50, those anticipated, estimated, or projected. Readers should keep this in mind. We undertake no obligation to Delaware 19801, USA. Panama city, Panama. 04 publicly update any forward-looking statements, New during the year whether as a result of new information, future events or Ybrant Digital Servicos De Publicidade LTDA LGS Global FZE otherwise. 12995, Andar 18 Sala 36, 04.578-000, Brooklin Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone, 06 Novo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
08 Ybrant Digital (Brasil) Limited Frontier Data Management Inc (MediosOne) Chairman’s perspective 188721, 333, North Bridge Road, #08-00, 108 West, 13th Street, Wilmington, 12 KH KHEA Building, Singapore. Delaware 19801, USA. Dream ad S.A , Argentina Dyomo Corporation 27 Av. Corrientes, 327 Piso 11, 16192, Coastal Highway, Lewes, Financial Highlights Buenos Aires, Argentina. Delaware 19958-9776, County of Sussex, USA
33 Get Media Mexico S.A. DE CV Dream ad S.A , Chile Presidente Masaryk No. 111, 1er. Piso, Col Padre tMariano 103 Of. 207, 47 Chapultepec, Morales, Mexico D.F. Providencia Santiago de Chile, Chile. Profile - Board of Directors. Yreach Media Pvt Ltd Dream ad S.A, Uruguay 51 Plot No.7A, Road No.12, MLA Colony, Ellauri 357, Of. 50, 2Piso, Montevideo, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad - 500 034 AP, India. Uruguay CP. 11300. 62 Lycos Story, Operational Matrix Max Interactive Pty Ltd 5 Kings Lane, 89 Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia Onwards - Notice, Directors Report, MD&A, Corporate Governance & Bankers Auditors Financial Statements Axis Bank Limited M/s. P. MURALI & CO Canara Bank Chartered Accountants, State Bank of India 6-3-655/2/3, Somajiguda, ICICI Bank Limited Hyderabad - 500 082, Telangana, India Chief Financial Officer CA Y. Srinivasa Rao Registrar and Share Transfer Agent Aarthi Consultants Private Limited, Company Secretary 1-2-285, Domalguda, CS K Anusha Hyderabad-500 029, Telangana, India Phone: +91 (40) 2763 8111, +91 (40) 2763 4445, +91 (40) 2764 2217 Email: [email protected] ; Fax:+91 (40) 2763 2184 002 OPENING PAGE LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED OPENING PAGE 003 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15 NNOVATION I DETERMINED GROWTH
LYCOS Emphasizes INNOVATION
WE ENABLE INNOVATION FOR OUR LO N G T E R M F U T U R E 002 OPENING PAGE LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED OPENING PAGE 003 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15 NABLFS E XCITEMENT LYCOS THINK THE EXCITEMENT FACTOR IS CRUCIAL. WE DESPERATELY NEED INSPIRATION AND WE DESPERATELY NEED AND I N V E T S M E N T I N OUR LO N G T E R M F U T U R E 004 NEWS DURING THE YEAR LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED NEWS DURING THE YEAR 005 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
• Ybrant Digital was officially renamed to Lycos Internet Limited. • LYCOS Gets List ed on the National Stock Exchange of India • EdNoel appointed as new GM of Lycos Media (US) • Lycos TV–With Lycos TV implementation, we have added new channel for gaming using Social tron feed.
LYCOS ADVERTISING LYCOS MEDIA LYCOS Advertising
• Compass (OneTag) - Compass is the new name of One Tag, our in-house solution for managing publishers using a new-generation system, MediaBuying(Publishers/DSPs) –Someofthe ofleadingpublishersweaddedthis year: providing a turn-key solution that simplifies the publisher’s integration and monetization tracking through a single platform and single tag. The Compass solution enables traffic monetization through different platforms on a single click. Our Account managers are now able to manage all o PlayBuzz’whichisoneofthemostpopularsocialcontent publishing platforms. their publishers’ traffic in one place instead of managing their activity on multiple platforms, such as different ad servers and trading exchanges. The platform also has advanced automatic capabilities to handle technical and optimization related tasks. o ‘The Denver Post’theleadingdailynewspaperin Coloradoandone of thelargestcirculatednewspapersintheUS.
• Video-During Q2, we have signed a deal with“Yashi”– A platform focused on programmatic video advertising on large players, targeting the o ‘GannettBroadcasting’,oneofthelargestlocal contentprovidersintheUS. geographies US, UK, CA, AU. The activity with Yashi is expected to expand significantly in Q3 and Q4. We are also co operating with most of the leading Video Advertisers and Video Ad Networks (Including: Tremor, Bright Roll, Spot X change, Ad ap. Tv and Live Rail). o ‘MediaMath’,oneofthelargestprogrammaticDSP’sworldwide.
• Bright Roll Video Summit-The participation and sponsorship of this event has enabled the company to get the latest in sights from advertisers Enhancedsearchadvertisinghasreported a12%increasein revenuefrom lastquarter. when it comes to implementing programmatic buying and view ability .With a strong and growing relationship with Bright Roll which is a major player on the Online Video Advertising industry, Ybrant present edits latest developments on the video advertising arena for a large audience • MediaBuy(Publishers)- comprising of brand marketers, top agency executives and top quality publishers and technology providers. TheMediadivisionhasaddedstrategicallyvaluabledirectPublisherstoitsportfolio.Amongthesepublishersare“DailyNews”whichisoneofthetopUS newsmagazines;“MyFoxTV”,atopentertainmentUSwebsite;“NYPost”who’soneof • Sequential Targeting-We have implemented Sequential Targeting ability to match the one announced by Facebook last quarter. The next leap in US’stopportals;and“MedulaNetworks”,abigLATAMMediaHousethatoperatesmajorwebsitesacrossLatinAmerica. advertising is literally the ability to leap across screens. Picture a brand’s multi part marketing story that begins on your tablet and ends on your smart phone. • ExchangesTrading- WehavejoinedAOL’smarketplaceasapremiumtrafficproviderthroughtheirAdTechexchange.Withinthisactivity,weareabletoselltraffictosomeoft • Business Intelligence-This integration allows pulling and presenting important data that could be analyzed in one place. Then ew BI solution hebiggestDemandSidePlatforms(DSP)intheindustry,suchasTurn,DoubleClick(Google),MediaMath,CasaleMedia,RocketFuelandmore.Thedeal saves crucial time on manual work mainly when it comes to analysis and optimization of multiple data sources. We competed our first Bi withAOLwillexposeYbrantDigitaltomanynew opportunitieswithintheindustry. integration platform for its Display and Video divisions using cutting edge technology and end-to-end solution on Google eco system. The platform includes advanced DB technology (using Google Big Quarry) and is integrated with multiple tech platforms. Ybrant division is expected • Brands(directcustomers)- to release several more BI solutions during Q3 and during 2015. Thecompanysignedagreementswith“eBay”aleadingeCommercearenaandMobileye”,worldleaderforvehiclesafetytechnology.
• Yield optimization platform (Waterfall) – A new - generation platform that open the doors to premium market places (including tier 1& tier 2 world wide publishers). This new solution will enable Ybrant and its publishers to increase their profit ability and to get higher results. LYCOS LIFE
• A new division focused on consumer internet products (IoT) is getting ready for a launch in June 2015.
• New products launched. Lycos Band & Lycos Ring. 004 NEWS DURING THE YEAR LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED NEWS DURING THE YEAR 005 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
• Ybrant Digital was officially renamed to Lycos Internet Limited. • LYCOS Gets List ed on the National Stock Exchange of India • EdNoel appointed as new GM of Lycos Media (US) • Lycos TV–With Lycos TV implementation, we have added new channel for gaming using Social tron feed.
LYCOS ADVERTISING LYCOS MEDIA LYCOS Advertising
• Compass (OneTag) - Compass is the new name of One Tag, our in-house solution for managing publishers using a new-generation system, MediaBuying(Publishers/DSPs) –Some of the of leading publishers we added this year: providing a turn-key solution that simplifies the publisher’s integration and monetization tracking through a single platform and single tag. The Compass solution enables traffic monetization through different platforms on a single click. Our Account managers are now able to manage all o Play Buzz’ which is one of the most popular social content publishing platforms. their publishers’ traffic in one place instead of managing their activity on multiple platforms, such as different ad servers and trading exchanges. The platform also has advanced automatic capabilities to handle technical and optimization related tasks. o ‘The Denver Post’ the leading daily news paper in Colorado and one of the largest circulated news papers in the US.
• Video-During Q2, we have signed a deal with“Yashi”– A platform focused on programmatic video advertising on large players, targeting the o ‘Gannett Broadcasting’,one of the largest local content providers in the US. geographies US, UK, CA, AU. The activity with Yashi is expected to expand significantly in Q3 and Q4. We are also co operating with most of the leading Video Advertisers and Video Ad Networks (Including: Tremor, Bright Roll, Spot X change, Ad ap. Tv and Live Rail). o ‘MediaMath’, one of the largest programmatic DSPs worldwide.
• Bright Roll Video Summit-The participation and sponsorship of this event has enabled the company to get the latest in sights from advertisers Enhanced search advertising has reported a12% increase in revenue from last quarter. when it comes to implementing programmatic buying and view ability .With a strong and growing relationship with Bright Roll which is a major player on the Online Video Advertising industry, Ybrant present edits latest developments on the video advertising arena for a large audience • MediaBuy(Publishers)- comprising of brand marketers, top agency executives and top quality publishers and technology providers. The Media division has added strategic ally valuable direct Publishers to its portfolio. Among these publishers are “DailyNews” which is one of the top US news magazines ; “My FoxTV”, a top entertainment US website; NY Post; and “Medula Networks”, a big LATAM Media House that • Sequential Targeting-We have implemented Sequential Targeting ability to match the one announced by Facebook last quarter. The next leap in operates major websites across Latin America. advertising is literally the ability to leap across screens. Picture a brand’s multi part marketing story that begins on your tablet and ends on your smart phone. • ExchangesTrading- We have joined AOL’s market place as a premium traffic provider through their Ad Tech exchange. With in this activity, we are able to sell • Business Intelligence-This integration allows pulling and presenting important data that could be analyzed in one place. Then ew BI solution traffic to some of the biggest Demand Side Platforms (DSP) in the industry, such as Turn, DoubleClick (Google) ,Casale Media, Rocket Fuel saves crucial time on manual work mainly when it comes to analysis and optimization of multiple data sources. We competed our first Bi and more. The deal with AOL will expose LYCOS to many new opportunities with in the industry. integration platform for its Display and Video divisions using cutting edge technology and end-to-end solution on Google eco system. The platform includes advanced DB technology (using Google Big Quarry) and is integrated with multiple tech platforms. Ybrant division is expected • Brands(directcustomers)- to release several more BI solutions during Q3 and during 2015. The company signed agreements with “eBay” a leading eCommerce arena and Mobileye”,world leader for vehicle safety technology. • Yield optimization platform (Waterfall) – A new - generation platform that open the doors to premium market places (including tier 1& tier 2 world wide publishers). This new solution will enable Ybrant and its publishers to increase their profit ability and to get higher results. LYCOS LIFE
• A new division focused on consumer internet products (IoT) was launched on June 2015.
• New products launched, Lycos Band & Lycos Ring. 006 CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE 007 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
In an effort to sharpen our strategic focus on our deliverables with LYCOS Media special attention to our organic growth, our business highlights include: • Improving on enhanced search advertising and increases in revenue has been noteworthy from last year. • Name change of the company to ‘LYCOS Internet Limited’ to • Exchanges Trading - We have joined AOL’s marketplace as a premium capitalize on the brand ‘LYCOS’. traffic provider through their AdTech exchange. • Listing of LYCOS on the NSE. • Brands (direct customers) –The division signed agreements with • Revamping of the Board. Significant being the inclusion of the ‘eBay’ a leading eCommerce arena and Mobileye”, world leader for Inventor and Founder of LYCOS, Michael L. Mauldin into your vehicle safety technology. company board. • LYCOS ranked 8th amongst the ‘India’s Next 500’companies. • Launch of the LYCOS Life division focussed on consumer internet products. LYCOS Life M Suresh Kumar Reddy • The new division focussing on consumer internet products (IoT) was Chairman and Managing Director launched in June 2015. LYCOS launched its IoT-enabled suite of Technology products under the LYCOS Life label – The Band and the Ring along with an Android-based App. • Business Intelligence: Platforms enabled by integration of first party • In July, LYCOS announced its LYCOS Life Band compatible with iOS data to online campaigns to optimize several video players were devices and with advanced fitness features. The LYCOS Life activity added. tracker allows users to easily monitor steps, calories burned, distance • Media Buying operation: New enhanced solution to understand, and heart rate. LYCOS Life helps users meet their goals and its evaluate and improve their performance on a daily basis was reminders motivate them to get up and get moving. introduced. • Presently, the LYCOS Life products are available for purchase • Auto-tools development: New auto tools, enabling advanced at:http://www.amazon.in/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search- Dear Shareholders, Gartner Inc., predicts today’s 4.9 billion connected devices will grow five- abilities were introduced for managing multiple publishers and alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lycos+band It gives me immense pleasure to update you on your company’s progress fold to 25-28 billion by 2020. ‘IoT services’ spending is set to increase to advertisers with an added advantage of bid optimization which for the year 2014-15. We had a fantastic year and I am very happy with the $263 billion over the next five years from $69.5 billion in 2015. We are automatically finds the optimal bid in different demand side overall performance of the company. We have achieved over 22% upbeat on IoT as a market and looking to capitalize on this growth platforms. growth in revenues from Digital marketing and media division. All of our opportunity. • Compass: Investments on our in-house tool were focused on the Moving Forward: businesses have delivered on the promise of strong revenues for the deployment of the new Real Time Bidding technology as part of The video segment of our digital media business is being enhanced to quarters gone by. With regards to digital media, around the world, advertisers will spend Compass Version 5. capitalize on the fast growing video monetization segment. Presently, $592.43 billion in 2015, according to new figures from eMarketer, an your company is streamlining its operations globally to focus more on increase of 6.0% over 2014. the priority segments of business with renewed focus. Business Review: Currently, the top five spenders in each advertising category -- total paid Technology We will continue to test the high potential segment of IoT through its During the year your company achieved a turnover of Rs.1957 crores as media, digital and mobile, are the US, China, Japan, Germany and the UK. • Media Buying (Publishers): Leading global publishers from various LYCOS Life products.The market has been very positive of the products against Rs.1673 crores in the last year. This is an increase of 16.95% While the UK lags Japan and Germany in total media spending, its digital verticals such as entertainment, life-style, gaming, news, travel and both in India and in the US. against last year. The profit after tax for the year was Rs.342.22 crores ad market outpaces both, with digital and mobile ads representing more were added. as against Rs. 262 crores (excluding extraordinary items) last year; an significantly higher shares of overall advertising than its two • Video Advertising: New RTB integration with one of the leading In summary, the game plan is continue to leverage the steady growth of increase of over 30.6% year-on-year. The earnings per share for the predecessors in the overall market. Otherwise, the rankings are demand partners in US and partnership with Google were added for the digital media markets and build out the IoT business to be ready for year were Rs. 7.19 as against Rs.4.64 last year. We had free cash flow of consistent across all media markets. our video solutions. the explosive growth anticipated there. We intend to achieve this Rs. 81 crores this year. We’ve used aboutRs. 68 crores of that money to • Mobile video advertising witnessed new partners. We also through smart and nimble teams that will innovate to create world class pay banks. We paid off a sizeableportion of the long term and short The US remains the dominant advertising market worldwide. Next year, sponsored the ‘BrightRoll summit’ that took place in New York services and products. term bank loans. marketers will spend $189.06 billion on ads in the US, an amount that during April and participated in ‘Ad-tech San Francisco’ in order to Thank you all. As you observe, the results for this financial year were very strong. represents 31.9% of the global ad market. That figure is also higher than meet new customers and to capitalize on new opportunities. Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working the aggregated total for China, Japan, Germany and the UK. Through • Some of the of leading publishers were added this year by our Media together.Our teams executed well in building solid revenue streams by 2018, the US will essentially maintain that share, dipping to only 31.1%, Buying (Publishers/DSPs): Warm Regards, aligning relevant technologies around best growth opportunities. We and will continue to account for more in total media ad spending than Suresh Reddy continue to focus on providing a simple yet powerful Internet the rest of the top five combined. PlayBuzz, one of the most popular social content publishing Chairman and Managing Director experience to our users and clients. With the launch of LYCOS Life platforms. division, our entry into IoT space has opened upadditional avenues. Mobile advertising is the key driver of growth around the world, and The Denver Post, the leading daily newspaper in Colorado and one advertisers will spend $64.25 billion worldwide on mobile in 2015, an of the largest circulated newspaper in the US. The name change of your company from Ybrant Digital to LYCOS Internet increase of nearly 60% over 2014. That figure will reach $158.55 billion by Gannett Broadcasting, one of the largest local content providers in Limited is helping us capitalize on the popularity of the name ‘LYCOS’ in 2018, when mobile ads will account for 22.3% of all advertising spending the US. the global marketplace and the recognition we are getting among the worldwide. MediaMath, one of the largest programmatic DSP’s worldwide. media and marketers especially in the US is exciting. Daily News, one of the top US news magazines. The way the industry is progressing and the way the industry is MyFoxTV, a top entertainment US website. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next mega-trend. IoT is emerging as the changing, we believe that there is a paradigm shift. Our company being NY Post, one of US’s top portals, and third wave in the development of the Internet. The1990’s fixed Internet an Internet company, we have a clear sense of the direction the whole Medula Networks, a big LATAM Media House that operates major wave connected 1 billion users while the 2000’s mobile wave connected space is evolving into… websites across Latin America. another 2 billion. The IoT has the potential to connect 10X as many (28 billion) ‘things’ to theInternet by 2020, ranging from bracelets to cars. 006 CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED CHAIRMAN’S PERSPECTIVE 007 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
In an effort to sharpen our strategic focus on our deliverables with LYCOS Media special attention to our organic growth, our business highlights include: • Improving on enhanced search advertising and increases in revenue has been noteworthy from last year. • Name change of the company to ‘LYCOS Internet Limited’ to • Exchanges Trading - We have joined AOL’s marketplace as a premium capitalize on the brand ‘LYCOS’. traffic provider through their AdTech exchange. • Listing of LYCOS on the NSE. • Brands (direct customers) –The division signed agreements with • Revamping of the Board. Significant being the inclusion of the ‘eBay’ a leading eCommerce arena and Mobileye”, world leader for Inventor and Founder of LYCOS, Michael L. Mauldin into your vehicle safety technology. company board. • LYCOS ranked 8th amongst the ‘India’s Next 500’ companies. • Launch of the LYCOS Life division focussed on consumer internet products. LYCOS Life M Suresh Kumar Reddy • The new division focussing on consumer internet products (IoT) was Chairman and Managing Director launched in June 2015. LYCOS launched its IoT-enabled suite of Technology products under the LYCOS Life label – The Band and the Ring along with an Android-based App. • Business Intelligence: Platforms enabled by integration of first • In July, LYCOS announced its LYCOS Life Band compatible with iOS party data to online campaigns to optimize several video players devices and with advanced fitness features. The LYCOS Life activity were added. tracker allows users to easily monitor steps, calories burned, distance • Media Buying operation: New enhanced solution to understand, and heart rate. LYCOS Life helps users meet their goals and its evaluate and improve their performance on a daily basis was reminders motivate them to get up and get moving. introduced. • Presently, the LYCOS Life products are available for purchase at: • Auto-tools development: New auto tools, enabling advanced www.amazon.in Dear Shareholders, Gartner Inc., predicts today’s 4.9 billion connected devices will grow five- abilities were introduced for managing multiple publishers and It gives me immense pleasure to update you on your company’s progress fold to 25-28 billion by 2020. ‘IoT services’ spending is set to increase to advertisers with an added advantage of bid optimization which for the year 2014-15. We had a fantastic year and I am very happy with the $263 billion over the next five years from $69.5 billion in 2015. We are automatically finds the optimal bid in different demand side overall performance of the company. We have achieved over 22% upbeat on IoT as a market and looking to capitalize on this growth platforms. growth in revenues from Digital marketing and media division. All of our opportunity. • Compass: Investments on our in-house tool were focused on the Moving Forward: businesses have delivered on the promise of strong revenues for the deployment of the new Real Time Bidding technology as part of The video segment of our digital media business is being enhanced to quarters gone by. With regards to digital media, around the world, advertisers will spend Compass Version 5. capitalize on the fast growing video monetization segment. Presently, $592.43 billion in 2015, according to new figures from eMarketer, an your company is streamlining its operations globally to focus more on increase of 6.0% over 2014. • Media Buying (Publishers): Leading global publishers from various verticals such as entertainment, life-style, gaming, news, the priority segments of business with renewed focus. Business Review: Currently, the top five spenders in each advertising category -- total paid travel and more were added. We will continue to test the high potential segment of IoT through its During the year your company achieved a turnover of Rs.1957 crores as media, digital and mobile, are the US, China, Japan, Germany and the UK. • Video Advertising: New RTB integration with one of the leading LYCOS Life products.The market has been very positive of the products against Rs.1673 crores in the last year. This is an increase of 16.95% While the UK lags Japan and Germany in total media spending, its digital demand partners in US and partnership with Google were added for both in India and in the US. against last year. The profit after tax for the year was Rs.342.22 crores as ad market outpaces both, with digital and mobile ads representing our video solutions. against Rs. 262 crores last year; an increase of over 30.6% year-on-year. significantly higher shares of overall advertising than its two • Mobile video advertising witnessed new partners. We also In summary, the game plan is continue to leverage the steady growth of The earnings per share for the year were Rs. 7.19 as against Rs.4.64 last predecessors in the overall market. Otherwise, the rankings are sponsored the ‘BrightRoll summit’ that took place in New York the digital media markets and build out the IoT business to be ready for year. We had free cash flow of Rs. 81 crores this year. We’ve used aboutRs. consistent across all media markets. during April and participated in ‘Ad-tech San Francisco’ in order to the explosive growth anticipated there. We intend to achieve this 68 crores of that money to pay banks. We paid off a sizeableportion of the meet new customers and to capitalize on new opportunities. through smart and nimble teams that will innovate to create world class long term and short term bank loans. The US remains the dominant advertising market worldwide. Next year, • Some of the of leading publishers were added this year by our Media services and products. marketers will spend $189.06 billion on ads in the US, an amount that Buying (Publishers/DSPs): Thank you all. As you observe, the results for this financial year were very strong. represents 31.9% of the global ad market. That figure is also higher than Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working the aggregated total for China, Japan, Germany and the UK. Through • PlayBuzz, one of the most popular social content publishing together.Our teams executed well in building solid revenue streams by 2018, the US will essentially maintain that share, dipping to only 31.1%, platforms. The Denver Post, the leading daily newspaper in Warm Regards, aligning relevant technologies around best growth opportunities. We and will continue to account for more in total media ad spending than Colorado and one of the largest circulated newspaper in the US. Suresh Reddy continue to focus on providing a simple yet powerful Internet the rest of the top five combined. Gannett Broadcasting, one of the largest local content providers in experience to our users and clients. With the launch of LYCOS Life the US. MediaMath, one of the largest programmatic DSP’s Chairman and Managing Director division, our entry into IoT space has opened upadditional avenues. worldwide. Daily News, one of the top US news magazines. Mobile advertising is the key driver of growth around the world, and MyFoxTV, a top entertainment US website. NY Post, one of US’s top advertisers will spend $64.25 billion worldwide on mobile in 2015, an The name change of your company from Ybrant Digital to LYCOS Internet portals, and Medula Networks, a big LATAM Media House that increase of nearly 60% over 2014. That figure will reach $158.55 billion by Limited is helping us capitalize on the popularity of the name ‘LYCOS’ in operates major websites across Latin America. 2018, when mobile ads will account for 22.3% of all advertising spending the global marketplace and the recognition we are getting among the worldwide. media and marketers especially in the US is exciting. The way the industry is progressing and the way the industry is The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next mega-trend. IoT is emerging as the changing, we believe that there is a paradigm shift. Our company being third wave in the development of the Internet. The1990’s fixed Internet an Internet company, we have a clear sense of the direction the whole wave connected 1 billion users while the 2000’s mobile wave connected space is evolving into… another 2 billion. The IoT has the potential to connect 10X as many (28 billion) ‘things’ to theInternet by 2020, ranging from bracelets to cars. 008 PROFILE - BOARD OF DIRECTORS LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED PROFILE - BOARD OF DIRECTORS 009 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
Mr. M Suresh Kumar Reddy Mr. Vijay Kancharla Mr. Vijaya Bhasker Reddy Mr. Y Ramesh Reddy Chairman & Managing Director Director Independent Non- Independent Non- Executive Director Executive Director Suresh is the Chairman & MD of Lycos. An entrepreneur with a Vijay leads the innovations at Lycos. He is responsible for the Mr. Vijaya Bhasker Reddy is the Independent Director of the Company. He Mr. Yerradoddi Ramesh Reddy is an Independent Director of the commitment to building high value businesses, Suresh is responsible company’s worldwide technology enhancements and has a Master's degree in Food Engineering from the Indian Institute of Company. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian for promoting the success of the group and its worldwide functions innovations.Vijay has been at the forefront of the internet revolution Technology, Kharagpur, and has done his Management Development Institute of Technology, Chennai, and also holds a Management Degree and sustainability. With over a decade of online marketing and and has vast experience in building innovative solutions for the online programme from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He in Finance&Marketing from XLRI,Jamshedpur. He has over 22 years of advertising experience, he has a strong understanding of building market. has over 23 years of experience in marketing and management and has experience in thefield of IT, Manufacturing, Investment. Banking and effective cross-country and cross-cultural business operations. He Prior to co-founding USAGreetings and Ybrant Technologies, he worked as General Manager at Coca-Cola India. heads the Finance Department at Cambridge Technology Enterprises directs and supervises the group’s strategy and its implementation worked with some of the Fortune 500 companies, such as Hewlett Limited (CTE). Prior to joining CTE, he was a Strategic Business Unit head globally. Packard and Pacific Bell. with VirinchiTechnologies Limited, a Hyderabad -based start-up. Suresh founded two successful companies USAGreetings and Ybrant Technologies. He maintains a global network of trusted relationships Vijay holds an M. S. in Computer Science from the University of with peer entrepreneurs, corporates, partners, institutions and the Louisville and a B. Tech. from the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological media. He has consummated, completed and integrated 10 major University, Hyderabad, India. acquisitions for Ybrant Digital (presently Lycos), coupled with fund raising. The group under his leadership has raised $100 million in equity and debt over a period of 7 years. Prior to co-founding two successful companies USAGreetings and Ybrant Technologies, he worked in various roles across different industries in Fortune 500 companies, such as Caterpillar, Chrysler, SBC(PacBell) and Charles Schwab. Suresh holds an M. S. in Engineering from the Iowa State University and a B. Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. 008 PROFILE - BOARD OF DIRECTORS LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED PROFILE - BOARD OF DIRECTORS 009 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
Mr. M Suresh Kumar Reddy Mr. Vijay Kancharla Mr.M. Vijaya Bhasker Reddy Mr. Y Ramesh Reddy Chairman Director Independent Independent Non-Executive Director Non-Executive Director
Mr. Muthukuru Suresh Kumar Reddy is the Chairman and Promoter Mr. Vijay Kumar Kancharla is the Promoter Director of the Company. He is Mr. Vijaya Bhasker Reddy is an Independent Director of the Company. Mr. Yerradoddi Ramesh Reddy is an Independent Director of the Director of the Company. He is the co-founder of USA Greetings and the co-founder of USA Greetings and Ybrant Technologies Inc. He is He has a Master's degree in Food Engineering from the Indian Institute Company. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Ybrant Technologies Inc. He is responsible for the strategic direction and currently responsible for the technological operations and technology of Technology, Kharagpur, and has done his Management Institute of Technology, Chennai, and also holds a Management Degree expansion efforts of the Company. He holds a degree in Master of platforms owned and managed by the Company. He is a Master of Development programme from the Indian Institute of Management, in Finance&Marketing from XLRI,Jamshedpur. He has over 22 years of Science in Engineering from Iowa State University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science fromUniversity of Louisville and a Bachelor Ahmedabad. He has over 23 years of experience in marketing and experience in thefield of IT, Manufacturing, Investment. Banking and Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. of Technology from the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, management and has worked as General Manager at Coca-Cola India. heads the Finance Department at Cambridge Technology Enterprises Hyderabad, India. Limited (CTE). Prior to joining CTE, he was a Strategic Business Unit head He has over two decades of experience in the field of design, He has over 19 years of experience in the field of online advertising with VirinchiTechnologies Limited, a Hyderabad -based start-up. development, and support of various software technologies including technologies. He has served as the Chief Executing Officer ofYbrant business intelligence development and has worked in various key roles, Technologies Inc. and was involved in business development, strategic namely as project engineer, software analyst and business analyst in short and long-term planning, setting up of sales and marketing teams, different industries, such as AM General Corporation, Caterpillar, building long-term business and corporate relationships and managing Chrysler, SBC (PacBell) and Charles Schwab Corporation. financial and operation teams both in Ybrant Technologies Inc. and our Company. Prior to setting up ofYbrant Technologies Inc. he has worked for companies like Hewlett Packard and Pacific Bell. During his tenure in these companies he was responsible for design, development and maintenance of various software. 010 PROFILE - BOARD OF DIRECTORS LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED PROFILE - BOARD OF DIRECTORS 011 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
Mr. Raghunath Allamsetty Mrs.S.V Rajyalaxmi Reddy Michael Loren Mauldin Mr. Subrato Saha Independent Director Non-Executive, Non-Executive, Non-Executive Director Non-Independent Director Non-Independent Director
Mr. Raghunath Allamsetty is an Independent Director of the Company. Mrs.Rajyalaxmi Reddy is a Director of Lycos. A graduate in Computer Michael Loren Mauldin is a Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director of Mr. Subrato is a Non-Executive, Non-Independent Director of Lycos. He He holds a degree in Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Science from the Osmania University, she lives the quiet life of many Lycos. He was the founder and chief scientist of the Lycos Internet search has done Chemical Engineering Degree from IIT Kharagpur (1989 Batch). Communication from Osmania University and a degree inmarketing women of purpose. Like how philanthropy has come from women engine company. He developed the Lycos Search Engine while working He has a total of around 26 years of experience with 14 years in the from IGNOU. HE has over 21years of experience in the areas of project involved in an array of professional pursuits, including business, politics, on the Informedia Digital Library project at Carnegie Mellon University. Corporate world and 12 years, managing own business. He has held development, technical management and business development. Mr. social services and entertainment, for her it’s with complete activism and He is also director of Conversive, Inc. an Artificial Intelligence Software several responsible positions in group companies of select Fortune 100 Allamsetty is the Chief Executive Officer of AasraArchiventures Private compassion. company based in Malibu, California. multinationals viz. Shell, ExxonMobil, Sabic and General Electric. Limited and Director of Apere India Private Limited. Prior to his joining Adaptec, he was the Managing Director of Adaptec India Private Years ago, she gave up her profession as a software professional in Dr. Mauldin has written two books, ten refereed papers and several Besides General Administration & Management, functionally he is Limited,and was the co-founder and chief executive officer of various FusionOne, USA, to go after where her heart took her – family and social technical reports on natural language, autonomous information agents, trained in the areas of Process Engineering, Project & Production organizations, such as Plarys Communication India Pvt Ltd. service. Her service merits the place she has earned in social circles. An information retrieval and expert systems. He is also one of the authors of Management, Process Integration & Business Automation along with influential person in her own rights, her future plans are to get funding Rog-O-Matic and Julia (a Turing test competitor in the Loebner Prize). Operation Research. for the cause she believes in – education of the poor and shelter to the homeless. 010 PROFILE - BOARD OF DIRECTORS LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED PROFILE - BOARD OF DIRECTORS 011 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
Mr. Raghunath Allamsetty Mrs.Rajyalaxmi Reddy Mr. Michael Loren Mauldin Mr. Subrato Saha Independent Non- Director Independent Independent Executive Director Non-Executive Director Non-Executive Director
Mr. Raghunath Allamsetty is anIndependent Director of the Company. Mrs.Rajyalaxmi Reddy is a Director of Lycos. A graduate in Computer Mauldin, the inventor and founder of LYCOS in 1994 also served as the Subrato holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. He holds a degree in Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Science from the Osmania University, she lives the quiet life of many Chief Scientist of the Lycos Internet search engine company. Mauldin He has over 26 years of experience, with 14 years in the Corporate Communication from Osmania University and a degree inmarketing women of purpose. Like how philanthropy has come from women developed the Lycos Search Engine while working on the Informedia world and 12 years managing his own businesses. He has held several from IGNOU. HE has over 21years of experience in the areas of project involved in an array of professional pursuits, including business, politics, Digital Library project at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also former responsible positions in group companies of select Fortune 100 development, technical management and business development. Mr. social services and entertainment, for her it’s with complete activism and director of Conversive, Inc., an Artificial Intelligence Software company multinationals viz. Shell, ExxonMobil, Sabic and General Electric. Allamsetty is the Chief Executive Officer of AasraArchiventures Private compassion. based in Malibu, California. Limited and Director of Apere India Private Limited. Prior to his joining Besides General Administration & Management, functionally he is Adaptec, he was the Managing Director of Adaptec India Private Years ago, she gave up her profession as a software professional in Since leaving LYCOS in 1998, Mauldin has written two books, ten trained in the areas of Process Engineering, Project & Production Limited,and was the co-founder and chief executive officer of various FusionOne, USA, to go after where her heart took her – family and social refered papers and several technical reports on natural language, Management, Process Integration & Business Automation along with organizations, such as Plarys Communication India Pvt Ltd. service. Her service merits the place she has earned in social circles. An autonomous information agents, information retrieval and expert Operations Research. influential person in her own rights, her future plans are to get funding systems. He is also one of the authors of Rog-O-Matic and Julia. for the cause she believes in – education of the poor and shelter to the Currently, he is based in Dubai, UAE. With his partner Anand, he runs a homeless. The Verbot program is based on Mauldin’s early work in natural Chemical Supply & Distribution company – Aquachemie. Formed in language processing and Chatterbots.He is an active competitor in the 2008, AquaChemie operates throughout the GCC countries with Robot Fighting League and has been involved with Robot Combat for multiple corporate offices, blending plants & warehouses. It works with over a decade. over 100 large corporates in Oil & Gas Drilling, Refineries, Petrochemicals, Polymers, Power & Desalination Industry.
Subrato is also a keen follower of Real Estate investment. 012 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS LYCOS INTERNET LIMITED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 013 ANNUAL REPORT 2014 -15
EPS (in INR) BOOK VALUE PER SHARE (in INR) DIGITAL REVENUE REVENUE (in INR Crores) PBIT (in INR Crores)
21.8 24.34 32.12 1.07 4.64 7.19 859.29 1215.71 1493.92 62.82 276.92 541.02 Fy 2013 Fy 2014 Fy 2015 Fy 2013 Fy 2014 Fy 2015 Fy 2013 Fy 2014 Fy 2015 Fy 2013 Fy 2014 Fy 2015 Fy
REVENUE (in INR Crores) E (in INR Crores) PARTICULARS SEGMENT WISE FY 2014-2015
Banner - 48.31% Search - 17.74% Email Marketing - 3.16% Software Development - 22.80% Platforms - 7.98%
1610 1673 1957 212 368 585
Pricing Methods 100.00% Fy 2013 Fy 2014 Fy 2015 Fy 2013 Fy 2014 Fy 2015