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Aurobindo Pharma net up 49 pc, to pay Rs 5

Our Bureau

HYDERABAD, May 28

AUROBINDO Pharma Ltd (APL), the largest manufacturer of semi-synthetic penicillins in the country, has registered a growth of 34.52 per cent in turnover, 48.75 per cent in operating profit and 48.78 per cent in post-tax profit for the year ended March 31 , 2000. It has registered an operating profit margin of 15.26 per cent for the year as against 13.8 per cent in the previous year.

While taking on record the audited financial results, the board has recommended treating the interim dividend of Rs. 5 (50 per cent) declared earlier as total dividend for the year.

The company has posted sales turnover of Rs. 739.9 crores (Rs. 550.03 crores), other income of Rs. 3.59 crores (Rs. 2.79 crores) and a post-tax profit of Rs. 74.6 crores (Rs. 50.14 crores) yielding an EPS of Rs. 74.59 (Rs. 53.05) on an equity of Rs. 10 c rores (Rs. 9.45 crores) with reserves amounting to Rs. 200.79 crores (Rs. 106.28 crores).

For the year under review, the company incurred a total expenditure of Rs. 626.95 crores (Rs. 474.1 crores) and provided Rs. 25.23 crores towards interest (Rs. 17.1 crores), Rs. 9.52 crores towards depreciation (Rs. 6.29 crores) and Rs. 7.19 crores towar ds taxation (Rs. 5.19 crores).

According to the APL Managing Director, Mr. P.V. Ramaprasad Reddy, the company has further diversified its product portfolio with the introduction of wide range of cephalosporins (both oral and sterile), anti-virals, macrolides, anti-ulcerants, quinolone s, semi-synthetic penicillins and formulations for domestic and export markets. The company's dependence on semi-synthetic penicillin bulk drugs has been further reduced while maintaining its leadership position in the country in this segment during the year, which has come down to 45 per cent from 52 per cent of total revenues last year.

APL has introduced a wide range of value-added advanced technology-based sterile cephalosporins and the revenues from the cephalosporins group of products has increased to 25 per cent from 11 per cent last year. According to Mr. Reddy, consistent changes in the product and sales mix by the company has resulted in improvement in the operating margins.

The company has given a major thrust to exports during the year. As a result, the exports increased to Rs. 367.35 crores from Rs. 213.46 crores last year, up by 72.09 per cent. While the company has presence in 70 countries, its exports account for 50.35 per cent of its total revenues.