VBL - Varun Beverages
π’ Recent Corporate Announcements
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) has released the audio recording of its Investors & Analysts Conference Call held on April 27, 2026. This call followed the declaration of the company's unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. The recording provides management's detailed commentary on the company's performance, market trends, and future outlook. Such disclosures are standard regulatory requirements under SEBI's Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements.
- Audio recording of the Q1 CY2026 earnings call is now available for public review.
- The conference call was conducted on April 27, 2026, following the quarterly results announcement.
- Disclosure made in compliance with Regulation 30 of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015.
- Recording link is hosted on the official Varun Beverages website for investor transparency.
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) has approved the allotment of 2,01,750 equity shares to employees following the exercise of stock options under its 2016 ESOP scheme. The shares, with a face value of Rs. 2 each, were issued at various exercise prices ranging from Rs. 121 to Rs. 359.60. This move increases the total paid-up share capital to approximately Rs. 676.46 crore. The new shares will rank pari-passu with existing equity shares, meaning they carry the same dividend and voting rights.
- Allotment of 2,01,750 equity shares of face value Rs. 2 each upon ESOP exercise.
- Total paid-up equity shares increased to 338,22,96,144 from 338,20,94,394.
- Exercise prices varied across five tranches, with the largest block of 1,60,500 shares at Rs. 174.
- Post-allotment issued share capital stands at Rs. 676,45,92,288.
- The dilution to existing shareholders is negligible at less than 0.01%.
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) reported a robust performance for Q1 CY2026, with consolidated revenue growing 18.1% YoY to βΉ65,742 million. Net profit (PAT) increased by 20.1% to βΉ8,787 million, supported by a 16.3% growth in total sales volumes. The company successfully consummated the acquisition of Twizza in South Africa for ZAR 2,053 million and announced an interim dividend of βΉ0.50 per share. EBITDA margins expanded by 55 bps to 23.3% due to operational efficiencies and early stocking of raw materials.
- Consolidated sales volume grew 16.3% YoY to 363.4 million cases, with India volumes up 14.4%.
- EBITDA increased 21.0% YoY to βΉ15,289 million, with margins improving to 23.3%.
- Consummated acquisition of Twizza (South Africa) at an enterprise value of ZAR 2,053 million.
- Low sugar and no sugar products now constitute approximately 63% of consolidated sales volumes.
- Interim dividend of βΉ0.50 per share declared, involving a total cash outflow of βΉ1,691 million.
Varun Beverages reported a strong Q1 CY2026 with revenue growing 18.1% YoY to Rs. 65,741.9 million, driven by a 16.3% increase in consolidated sales volumes. Profit After Tax (PAT) rose 20.1% to Rs. 8,787.1 million, while EBITDA margins improved by 55 bps to 23.3%. The company successfully integrated the Twizza acquisition in South Africa and announced an interim dividend of Rs. 0.50 per share. Growth was robust across both domestic (14.4%) and international (21.4%) markets.
- Revenue from operations increased 18.1% YoY to Rs. 65,741.9 million with 16.3% volume growth.
- EBITDA grew 21.0% to Rs. 15,289.3 million with margins expanding by 55 bps to 23.3%.
- Consummated Twizza acquisition in South Africa for ZAR 2,053 million to strengthen African footprint.
- Low/No sugar products now constitute approximately 63% of consolidated sales volumes.
- Board approved an interim dividend of Rs. 0.50 per equity share (25% of face value).
Varun Beverages reported a strong start to CY2026 with an 18.1% YoY revenue growth, reaching βΉ65,742 million, and a 20.1% increase in PAT to βΉ8,787 million. Total sales volumes grew by 16.3% to 363.4 million cases, supported by robust performance in both India (up 14.4%) and international markets (up 21.4%). The company also announced an interim dividend of βΉ0.50 per share and successfully consummated the acquisition of Twizza in South Africa. EBITDA margins expanded by 55 bps to 23.3%, driven by operational efficiencies and improved gross margins.
- Consolidated sales volume grew 16.3% YoY to 363.4 million cases, with international volumes surging 21.4%.
- EBITDA increased by 21.0% to βΉ15,289.3 million, with margins expanding to 23.3%.
- Gross margins improved by 62 bps to 55.2%, aided by early raw material stocking and a 63% mix of low/no sugar products.
- Completed the acquisition of Twizza (South Africa) for ZAR 2,053 million and signed a deal for Crickley Dairy.
- Board approved an interim dividend of βΉ0.50 per share, involving a total cash outflow of βΉ1,691 million.
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) reported a robust 18.3% YoY growth in consolidated revenue to βΉ67,215.37 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Net profit surged 20.1% YoY to βΉ8,787.13 million, reflecting strong operational performance during the start of the year. The company declared an interim dividend of βΉ0.50 per share and finalized the acquisition of Twizza in South Africa for approximately βΉ11,398 million. Additionally, VBL entered a binding agreement for Crickley Dairy, signaling continued aggressive expansion in the African market.
- Consolidated Revenue increased 18.3% YoY to βΉ67,215.37 million from βΉ56,800.26 million in Q1 2025.
- Consolidated Net Profit grew 20.1% YoY to βΉ8,787.13 million compared to βΉ7,313.58 million.
- Interim dividend of βΉ0.50 per share declared with a Record Date of May 1, 2026.
- Completed 100% acquisition of Twizza (South Africa) for an enterprise value of ZAR 2,053 million (~βΉ11,398 million).
- Signed binding agreement to acquire Crickley Dairy (South Africa) for ZAR 238 million (~βΉ1,314.68 million).
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) has issued a corporate guarantee worth ZAR 770 million (approx. INR 340 crore) to secure credit facilities for its South African subsidiary, The Beverage Company Proprietary Limited (Bevco). The guarantee is provided in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Johannesburg branch) and is valid until April 21, 2029. This move is a standard financial support mechanism for its international operations and is conducted at arm's length. The company stated there is no immediate impact on its financial standing from this issuance.
- Corporate guarantee of ZAR 770 million issued for subsidiary Bevco in South Africa
- Guarantee provided to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. to secure credit facilities
- The commitment is valid for a three-year period ending April 21, 2029
- Transaction confirmed to be at arm's length with no promoter group interest
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) has scheduled its Q1 CY 2026 earnings conference call for Monday, April 27, 2026, at 2:30 PM IST. The call will discuss the financial performance and business developments for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Senior management will be present to address queries from analysts and institutional investors. This is a routine but critical event for understanding the company's growth trajectory in the beverage sector.
- Conference call scheduled for April 27, 2026, at 2:30 PM IST
- Focus on results for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2026
- Senior management participation confirmed for investor interaction
- Primary dial-in numbers: +91 22 6280 1141 / +91 22 7115 8042
- Pre-registration link provided for seamless connection
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) has successfully acquired a 29.99% equity stake in FPEL HR2 Energy Private Limited for a total consideration of βΉ1.58 Crore. FPEL HR2 Energy is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established to generate and supply solar power specifically in the state of Haryana. This strategic investment is intended to secure solar power for VBL's captive consumption, which is expected to reduce long-term energy costs. The acquisition follows a previous intimation made by the company in February 2026 regarding this investment plan.
- Acquisition of 29.99% equity share capital in FPEL HR2 Energy Private Limited.
- Total cash consideration for the stake purchase is βΉ1.58 Crore.
- Target company is an SPV focused on solar power generation and supply in Haryana.
- Investment aimed at securing renewable energy for captive consumption to optimize operational costs.
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) has disclosed its latest ESG rating from SES ESG Research Private Limited for the financial year 2025. The company achieved a raw ESG score of 74.2, which marks a significant improvement from the 66.4 score recorded in FY 2024. After adjustments for sector and research exposures, the final ESG score stands at 66. This voluntary disclosure highlights the company's increasing focus on environmental, social, and governance transparency.
- SES ESG Research assigned a raw ESG score of 74.2 for FY 2025.
- The score improved by 7.8 points from the FY 2024 score of 66.4.
- Post-adjustment for sector and research exposures, the final ESG score is 66.
- The disclosure was made voluntarily under SEBI Regulation 30, indicating high transparency.
The promoter group of Varun Beverages Limited (VBL), led by Ravi Kant Jaipuria, has filed a formal declaration under Regulation 31(4) of SEBI Takeover Regulations. The filing confirms that no shares held by the promoters or persons acting in concert were encumbered, directly or indirectly, during the financial year ended December 31, 2025. This declaration also extends to the period ending March 31, 2026. Such disclosures are routine annual requirements that provide transparency regarding the stability of promoter shareholding.
- Compliance with Regulation 31(4) of SEBI (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011.
- Promoter group confirms zero new encumbrances for the financial year ended December 31, 2025.
- The declaration remains valid for the subsequent period ending March 31, 2026.
- VBL follows a January-December financial year cycle as approved by the Company Law Board.
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) has officially fixed April 8, 2026, as the record date to determine shareholder eligibility for its final dividend. The company will distribute a dividend of Re. 0.50 per equity share for the financial year ended December 31, 2025. This payout was approved by shareholders during the 31st Annual General Meeting held on April 1, 2026. Eligible investors can expect the dividend payment to commence from April 10, 2026.
- Final dividend of Re. 0.50 per equity share on a face value of Rs. 2 each
- Record date for dividend eligibility fixed as Wednesday, April 8, 2026
- Dividend payment to be processed starting from Friday, April 10, 2026
- Payout pertains to the financial year ended December 31, 2025
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) successfully conducted its 31st Annual General Meeting on April 1, 2026, where all five proposed resolutions were passed with the requisite majority. Shareholders approved a final dividend of Re. 0.50 per equity share for the financial year ended December 31, 2025. Key leadership continuity was secured through the re-appointment of Mr. Ravi Jaipuria and Mr. Raj Gandhi as Directors. Additionally, the continuation of Mr. Abhiram Seth as an Independent Director was approved via a special resolution with 88.24% support.
- Final dividend of Re. 0.50 per equity share (25% of face value) approved for FY 2025.
- Adoption of Audited Financial Statements for FY 2025 passed with 99.99% shareholder approval.
- Re-appointment of Mr. Ravi Jaipuria as Director confirmed with 98.52% of valid votes cast in favor.
- Special resolution for continuation of Independent Director Abhiram Seth passed with 88.24% majority.
- Total paid-up equity share capital as of the cut-off date stood at INR 676.42 crore divided into 338.21 crore shares.
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) has announced the closure of its trading window for equity shares starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026. This action is in compliance with SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading) Regulations, 2015, ahead of the financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. The window will remain closed until 48 hours after the results are declared. VBL maintains a unique financial year cycle from January 1 to December 31.
- Trading window closure effective from Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
- Closure pertains to the declaration of financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2026.
- Trading restriction for insiders ends 48 hours after the official result announcement.
- VBL follows a January 1 to December 31 financial year as per Section 2(41) of the Companies Act.
Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) has successfully completed the 100% acquisition of South Africa-based Twizza Proprietary Limited through its subsidiary. The transaction was finalized at an enterprise value of ZAR 2,053 million, which is approximately INR 11,398 million based on an exchange rate of 1 ZAR = 5.55 INR. Effective March 18, 2026, Twizza has become a step-down subsidiary of VBL. This move is part of VBL's broader strategy to expand its manufacturing and distribution footprint in the African market.
- Acquisition of 100% share capital of Twizza Proprietary Limited is now complete.
- Enterprise value finalized at ZAR 2,053 million (approx. INR 11,398 million) post-due diligence.
- Twizza officially became a step-down subsidiary of VBL on March 18, 2026.
- The deal was executed through VBL's South African subsidiary, The Beverage Company Proprietary Limited.
Financial Performance
Revenue Growth by Segment
Consolidated net revenue grew 24.7% YoY to INR 20,007.65 Cr in CY2024. This was driven by an 11.4% volume growth in the Domestic segment (821 million cases) and a massive 72.3% volume growth in the International segment (303 million cases) following the BevCo acquisition.
Geographic Revenue Split
India remains the primary market contributing 73% of total sales volume (821 million cases), while International territories (including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the newly integrated South Africa/DRC) contribute 27% of volume (303 million cases).
Profitability Margins
Net Profit After Tax (PAT) grew 25.3% to INR 2,634.28 Cr in CY2024. PAT margins improved slightly to 13.2% from 12.9% in CY2023. Standalone PAT stood at INR 2,320.36 Cr, up from INR 1,775.13 Cr.
EBITDA Margin
Operating margins improved to 23.5% in CY2024 from 22.5% in CY2023, a 100 bps increase driven by better operating leverage and cost optimization. EBITDA margins are expected to sustain around 21-21.5% over the medium term.
Capital Expenditure
VBL incurred a large capex of approximately INR 2,500 Cr in CY2023 focused on CSD, juice, and dairy segments. In CY2024, the company established two greenfield plants in Supa (Maharashtra) and Gorakhpur (UP) to expand the carbonated and non-carbonated portfolio.
Credit Rating & Borrowing
The company maintains a strong credit profile with a 'Stable' outlook from CRISIL. Borrowing costs are managed through a debt-to-EBITDA ratio that improved significantly to 0.5x in Dec 2024 from 1.4x in Dec 2023, following a INR 7,500 Cr QIP issuance.
Operational Drivers
Raw Materials
Key raw materials include PET chips (used for bottles), sugar, beverage concentrates, crown corks, PET pre-forms, corrugated boxes, and shrink wrap sheets. Cost of materials consumed was INR 8,293.74 Cr in CY2024, representing 41.4% of net revenue.
Import Sources
Not specifically disclosed by country, but sourcing is centralized to leverage scale. Operations in Africa utilize local currency for expenditures to create a natural hedge.
Key Suppliers
VBL operates as a franchisee for PepsiCo Inc., which is the primary supplier of beverage concentrates and brand licensing.
Capacity Expansion
Current expansion includes two new greenfield plants in India (Supa and Gorakhpur) operational in CY2024. The company is also incorporating a new subsidiary in Kenya for manufacturing and distribution of dairy and beverages.
Raw Material Costs
Raw material costs grew 18.0% YoY to INR 8,293.74 Cr, which is lower than the 24.7% revenue growth, indicating improved procurement efficiency and a decrease in the cost of PET chips.
Manufacturing Efficiency
Operating efficiency is driven by presence in contiguous territories which reduces logistics costs. Working capital days improved to 31 days in CY2024 from 34 days in CY2023 despite inorganic expansion.
Logistics & Distribution
VBL utilizes a vast distribution network across 27 States and 7 Union Territories in India. Logistics are optimized by clustering production facilities in contiguous territories to maintain economies of scale.
Strategic Growth
Expected Growth Rate
17.90%
Growth Strategy
Growth will be achieved through: 1) Geographic expansion in Africa (BevCo integration, DRC, Tanzania, Ghana, and Kenya); 2) Increasing penetration in under-penetrated rural Indian markets via Visi-cooler placements; 3) Product diversification into value-added dairy, juices, and the PepsiCo snacks business; 4) Strategic acquisitions of new territories.
Products & Services
Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSD), Juice-based drinks, Value-added dairy beverages, Packaged drinking water, and Snacks. The company is also test-marketing Beer in certain African territories.
Brand Portfolio
Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7UP, Mirinda, Sting, Gatorade, Tropicana, Aquafina, Cream Bell (dairy), and BevCo owned brands.
New Products/Services
Expansion into the snacks business under PepsiCo partnership and test-marketing of beer in Africa. New greenfield plants in CY2024 are dedicated to value-added dairy and juices.
Market Expansion
Acquisition of BevCo in South Africa (Enterprise Value INR 1,320 Cr) and expansion into DRC, Tanzania, Ghana, and Kenya. Domestic expansion focuses on lower-penetrated rural territories.
Market Share & Ranking
VBL is the lead franchisee for PepsiCo in India, accounting for 90%+ of PepsiCo's beverage sales volume in the country.
Strategic Alliances
Exclusive franchisee rights with PepsiCo Inc. for various territories in India and Africa. Exclusive distribution agreement for beer test-marketing in Africa.
External Factors
Industry Trends
The industry is shifting toward healthier, low-sugar, and zero-calorie options. VBL is positioning itself by expanding its juice and value-added dairy portfolio and aligning with PepsiCoβs healthier product plans.
Competitive Landscape
Primary competition includes The Coca-Cola Company and local regional beverage players. VBL competes through aggressive distribution and a diversified portfolio including energy drinks (Sting).
Competitive Moat
Durable advantages include: 1) Exclusive long-term franchise rights from PepsiCo; 2) Massive scale and backward integration (cost leadership); 3) Extensive cold-chain distribution network (Visi-coolers) that creates high entry barriers.
Macro Economic Sensitivity
Highly sensitive to summer temperatures and rainfall patterns in India, as a significant portion of revenue accrues in the April-June quarter (bell-curve performance).
Consumer Behavior
Increasing consumer preference for 'on-the-go' consumption and healthier beverage alternatives is driving growth in the non-CSD segment.
Geopolitical Risks
Concentration in African regions poses risks of political instability; however, VBL operates in regions not subject to US sanctions and has a track record in Morocco, Zambia, and Zimbabwe since 2018.
Regulatory & Governance
Industry Regulations
Subject to environmental norms regarding plastic waste disposal and water usage. Evolving regulations on single-use plastics (like straws) impact the ready-to-drink beverage segment.
Environmental Compliance
VBL recycled 88% of used PET bottles in CY2024, with a target of 100% by 2025. The company earned a CDP 'A' list rating for Climate and 'A-' for Water Security.
Taxation Policy Impact
Effective tax rate is approximately 23.3% (INR 7,988.04 Cr tax on INR 34,330.89 Cr PBT).
Legal Contingencies
The company maintains a 100% resolution rate for sexual harassment cases. Specific values for pending litigation in High/Supreme courts were not disclosed in the provided text.
Risk Analysis
Key Uncertainties
Integration risk of newly acquired African territories (BevCo, DRC) could impact margins if cost efficiencies are not realized. Geopolitical instability in Africa remains a monitorable.
Geographic Concentration Risk
73% of volume is concentrated in India, making the company highly dependent on the Indian monsoon and summer seasons.
Third Party Dependencies
High dependency on PepsiCo Inc. for franchise rights and concentrate supply; any change in the franchise agreement would be a terminal risk.
Technology Obsolescence Risk
Low risk of obsolescence in the beverage industry, but digital transformation is used to optimize supply chain data from production to point of sale.
Credit & Counterparty Risk
Liquidity is 'Superior' with a cash balance of INR 3,036 Cr as of Dec 2024 and low bank limit utilization (22%).