Smartworks Coworking Spaces Ltd
Q2 FY25 Earnings Call Analysis
Commercial Services & Supplies
fundraise: Nocapex: Yesrevenue: Category 2margin: Category 1orderbook: Yes
💰fundraise
Any current/future new fundraising through debt or equity?
- Smartworks has efficiently worked with private international banks and PSUs to raise debt through cash flow-based lease rental discounting.
- Current borrowing cost stands at a competitive ~9%, with interest expenses decreasing.
- Post-IPO, Smartworks repaid some high-cost debt, saving about INR 21 crores.
- The company is currently net debt negative following the IPO.
- Gross borrowings have been decreasing year-on-year.
- Over the next 2 years, Smartworks expects debt levels to become very negligible.
- There is no mention of any planned new fundraising through debt or equity in the near future.
- The company plans to fund growth via strong cash flow generation and self-sustaining capex without additional funding.
🏗️capex
Any current/future capex/capital investment/strategic investment?
- Smartworks plans significant expansion with 2.5 to 3 million square feet of new space added annually going forward.
- Currently, 10 million sq. ft. operational with additional 1.9 million sq. ft. contracted to come live by year-end; aims to grow from 190,000 to 275,000 seats over next 4-5 quarters.
- Expansion capital expenditure (capex) is approximately INR 60,000 per seat, fully borne by Smartworks.
- Fitouts are done only after pre-leasing to customers, minimizing idle capex deployment.
- The company aims to be self-sustaining in capex from 12 million sq. ft. scale, supporting 25%-30% growth annually without extra funding.
- Efficient large building leases enable optimized capex/opex through economies of scale and standardization.
- Strategic investments include proprietary platforms like BuildX to shorten office delivery time to 2 months.
- Net debt is negative post-IPO; future capex to be supported by strong cash flow and minimal borrowing.
📊revenue
Future growth expectations in sales/revenue/volumes?
- Smartworks aims for steady growth with a 30%-35% CAGR year-on-year in seat additions.
- Plans to add about 2.5 to 3 million square feet annually, achieved by signing a few large buildings each year.
- Target to increase seat count from 190,000 to 275,000 seats within 4 to 5 quarters.
- Revenue per square feet stood at approximately INR 173 in Q1 FY'26, with a 5% year-on-year price escalation on contracted revenues.
- Occupancy expected to rise from pre-commitments of 20%-25% to 65%-70% within 12 months per new center.
- Normalized Profit Before Tax (PBT) was INR 155 million in FY'25 and improved to INR 168 million in Q1 FY'26, indicating robust underlying business performance.
- EBITDA margin improved from 5.1% three years ago to 12.5% in FY'25 and further to 16% in Q1 FY'26.
- IndAS losses have significantly reduced, from INR 63 crores last year to INR 4 crores in Q1 FY'26, supporting margin expansion.
📈margin
Future growth expectations in earnings/operating earnings/profits/EPS?
- Smartworks is in a high growth stage, showing robust margin improvement: EBITDA margin increased from 5.1% (INR 36 crores) three years ago to 12.5% in FY '25 (INR 172 crores), further to 16% in Q1 FY '26.
- Normalized Profit Before Tax (PBT) rose from INR 155 million in FY '25 to INR 168 million in Q1 FY '26, indicating strong underlying business performance.
- The company expects consistent margin expansion driven by matured centres and operating leverage.
- Growth strategy targets adding 2.5 to 3 million sq ft annually, with steady seat additions (30,000 to 40,000 seats per year).
- Revenue growth guidance is around 25%-30% year-on-year, driven by increased occupancy and price escalations (~5%).
- Cost efficiencies and standardized operations are expected to sustain margin improvements.
- Normalized cash flow from operations is growing rapidly, with an 80% CAGR from FY '20 to FY '25.
- Overall, Smartworks anticipates continued earnings growth, margin expansion, and sustainable profitability in coming years.
📋orderbook
Current/ Expected Orderbook/ Pending Orders?
- As of June 30, 2025, Smartworks has a signed-up square footage of approximately 10 million square feet ready to go live.
- Currently, 0.7 million square feet is under fitout.
- An additional 1.07 million square feet is yet to be handed over in the coming quarters.
- The company has visibility to expand its total footprint to 12 million square feet considering Letters of Intent (LOIs) and term sheets signed.
- Pre-commitments for new spaces are typically 20%-25% before launch, with current new assets having around 25%-30% pre-committed occupancy.
- Strong pipelines exist for further expansions, particularly for three assets adding around 1 million square feet in the next two quarters.
- The committed revenue backlog stands in excess of INR 40,000 million, reflecting robust orderbook visibility.
