<p>Bengaluru: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) reported a 19 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit for the quarter ended December 2024 (Q3 FY25), on back of a one-time gain from the sale of its Pureit water purifier business to AO Smith.</p>.<p>The fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) major’s standalone net profit stood at Rs 3,001 crore, higher than Rs 2,519 crore reported in the same quarter last year. </p>.<p>The consumer goods maker is witnessing gradual improvement in the rural market while urban consumption continues to be tepid. HUL expects this trend to continue in the near term. The management also pointed towards a change in consumers' shopping behaviour with preference for smaller packs increasing as compared to larger ones and expect this trend to be transitional. </p>.HUL in talks to acquire Peak XV-backed Minimalist for Rs 3,000 cr.<p>“The overall market is muted and going ahead, we expect it to improve on the back of good signals from the kharif and rabi crop. However, the urban market is entirely dependent on macroeconomic factors,” said Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Rohit Jawa during the post earnings call. </p>.<p>Among segments, HUL’s home care revenue inched 5.4 per cent at Rs 5,742 crore while beauty and wellbeing reported an uptick of 1.4 per cent at Rs 3,438 crore, both year-on-year. However, personal care revenue was down 3 per cent at Rs 2,246 crore. All the key categories witnessed a drop in volumes except for home care category, in a quarter largely dictated by the festive season. </p>.<p>On the back of inflation in crude palm oil and tea, HUL had increased prices by about 4-5 per cent in Q3. Going ahead, the company expects a low single digit price growth.</p>.<p>“The secular trend of premiumisation remains resilient with the premium segment growing ahead of the mass segment. When it comes to commodity prices, we continue to see Euro-India inflation in crude palm oil and tea,” said Ritesh Tiwari, Chief Financial Officer. </p>.<p><strong>Deals dictate Q3</strong></p>.<p>HUL also announced the acquisition of Uprising Science Private Limited, the parent company of beauty brand Minimalist for Rs 2,955 crore. HUL is acquiring 90.5 per centshareholding in the Jaipur-based brand, with eventual acquisition of the remaining 9.5% shareholding in about two years from the completion date. </p>.<p>The board of directors also approved the demerger of HUL's ice cream business into Kwality Wall's India Limited as a separate listed entity. In addition to this, the company is also going to acquire the palm undertaking of Vishwatej Oil Industries Private Limited, as it is a key element used across its categories of personal care, beauty and home care products. Presently, it is largely imported from Indonesia and Malaysia.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) reported a 19 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit for the quarter ended December 2024 (Q3 FY25), on back of a one-time gain from the sale of its Pureit water purifier business to AO Smith.</p>.<p>The fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) major’s standalone net profit stood at Rs 3,001 crore, higher than Rs 2,519 crore reported in the same quarter last year. </p>.<p>The consumer goods maker is witnessing gradual improvement in the rural market while urban consumption continues to be tepid. HUL expects this trend to continue in the near term. The management also pointed towards a change in consumers' shopping behaviour with preference for smaller packs increasing as compared to larger ones and expect this trend to be transitional. </p>.HUL in talks to acquire Peak XV-backed Minimalist for Rs 3,000 cr.<p>“The overall market is muted and going ahead, we expect it to improve on the back of good signals from the kharif and rabi crop. However, the urban market is entirely dependent on macroeconomic factors,” said Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Rohit Jawa during the post earnings call. </p>.<p>Among segments, HUL’s home care revenue inched 5.4 per cent at Rs 5,742 crore while beauty and wellbeing reported an uptick of 1.4 per cent at Rs 3,438 crore, both year-on-year. However, personal care revenue was down 3 per cent at Rs 2,246 crore. All the key categories witnessed a drop in volumes except for home care category, in a quarter largely dictated by the festive season. </p>.<p>On the back of inflation in crude palm oil and tea, HUL had increased prices by about 4-5 per cent in Q3. Going ahead, the company expects a low single digit price growth.</p>.<p>“The secular trend of premiumisation remains resilient with the premium segment growing ahead of the mass segment. When it comes to commodity prices, we continue to see Euro-India inflation in crude palm oil and tea,” said Ritesh Tiwari, Chief Financial Officer. </p>.<p><strong>Deals dictate Q3</strong></p>.<p>HUL also announced the acquisition of Uprising Science Private Limited, the parent company of beauty brand Minimalist for Rs 2,955 crore. HUL is acquiring 90.5 per centshareholding in the Jaipur-based brand, with eventual acquisition of the remaining 9.5% shareholding in about two years from the completion date. </p>.<p>The board of directors also approved the demerger of HUL's ice cream business into Kwality Wall's India Limited as a separate listed entity. In addition to this, the company is also going to acquire the palm undertaking of Vishwatej Oil Industries Private Limited, as it is a key element used across its categories of personal care, beauty and home care products. Presently, it is largely imported from Indonesia and Malaysia.</p>