MRF, National Fert, Nestle & PNC results

CORPORATE SCORECARD

MRF's net profit for the second quarter ended March 31, 2005 plummeted 94 per cent to Rs 0.78 crore versus the Rs 13.19 crore that it achieved in second quarter ended March 31, 2004.

Net sales for the second quarter ended March 31, 2005 jumped by 13.32 per cent to Rs 701.79 crore when compared to the Rs 619.27 crore that it earned in the second quarter ended March 31, 2004.

National Fert Q4 net up 197%

National Fertilizers' net profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, rose 196.8 per cent at Rs 85.54 crore as compared with Rs 28.82 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. Total income decreased to Rs 810.83 crore (Rs 814.15 crore).

The company posted a 89.2 per cent surge in net profit at Rs 160.88 crore for the year ended March 31, 2005 as compared with Rs 85.03 crore for the year ended March 31, 2004. Total income increased to Rs 3490.50 crore (Rs 3417.87 crore).

Nestle net up 21.3% to Rs 78 cr

FMCG major Nestle India's focus on product innovation and improvement of operational efficiencies has led to a 21.3 per cent increase in its net profit to Rs 78 crore during the quarter ended March 31, 2005.

However, the company's sales during the quarter continued to be sluggish as it increased by 5.5 per cent only to Rs 613.5 crore.

"We are happy with the direction in which the company is moving. We are focussed on growing our top line, improving marketshares, rationalising the organisational structure and enhancing operational efficiencies," said Martial Rolland, chairman and managing director, Martial Rolland in a press statement.

Nestle's domestic sales grew by 4.9 per cent while its exports increased by 11 per cent. The company said the decrease in gains from the cost of milk solids was partially offset by the increase in prices of certain commodities like green coffee and sugar, and higher energy costs. Nestle also claimed that it was able to maintain marketshares in most product categories.

"A few factors like, the proposed fringe benefit tax and the piecemeal approach in implementing VAT, created some uncertainty and affected business confidence. Despite this, and some commodity prices continuing to be high, the environment during the last quarter was fairly stable," the company said.

PNC net up to Rs 2.36 cr

Pritish Nandy Communications has recorded a 1,104 per cent spurt in its net profit at Rs 2.36 crore in the quarter ended March, 2005 as compared with a net profit of Rs 19.6 lakh recorded in the same period of the last financial year.

The company's profit before tax for the quarter increased to Rs 3.74 crore as against Rs 44 lakh for the same quarter last year. Turnover for the year increased to Rs 35.61 crore from Rs 32.09 crore. Profit before tax went up to Rs 6.55 crore from Rs 4.49 crore.

The company's profit after tax for the current fiscal year increased by 56 per cent to Rs 4.05 crore from Rs 2.59 crore reported in the previous financial year.