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Strides Arcolab gains in volatile trade on dividend bounty

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Capital Market
Last Updated : Dec 11 2013 | 12:01 AM IST

Strides Arcolab rose 1.71% to Rs 879 at 14:21 IST on BSE in highly volatile trade after the company's board of directors at its meeting held today, 10 December 2013, approved a special dividend of Rs 500 per share.

The announcement was made during market hours today, 10 December 2013.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 111.84 points or 0.52% at 21,214.58

On BSE, 8.09 lakh shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 37,549 shares in the past one quarter.

The stock was highly volatile. The stock rose as much as 3.57% at day's high of Rs 895 and fell as much as 8.09% at the day's low of Rs 794.30 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,200 on 21 December 2012. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 552.65 on 1 August 2013.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 9 December 2013, falling 4.73% compared with the Sensex's 3.19% rise. The scrip also underperformed the market in past one quarter, sliding 4.8% as against Sensex's 10.67% rise.

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The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 59.16 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

At the current market price of Rs 879, the Strides Arcolab stock offers a highly attractive dividend yield of 56.88% based on special dividend of Rs 500 per share. The company has fixed 20 December 2013 as record date for payment of special dividend. The said special dividend will be paid on or after 27 December 2013, the company added.

Strides Arcolab had originally proposed to distribute $700 million-$800 million pre-tax to the shareholders. But the board of directors today, 10 December 2013 approved the special dividend of Rs 500 for a share, resulting in a pre-tax distribution of about $525 million.

Meanwhile, Strides Arcolab's board of directors also approved change of financial year of the company from January-December to April-March effective from 1 April 2014. Hence, the current financial year will be for a period of 15 months from January 2013 to March 2014, the company said.

Commenting on the event, Arun Kumar, Founder and Group CEO, Strides Arcolab, stated that We are delighted that we could create value for the shareholders by returning 88% of the free cash available with the company by way of special dividend.

Strides Arcolab today, 10 December 2013 informed that $150 million of the $250 million in initial potential payments was received based on the satisfactory resolution of certain third party agreements.

Strides Arcolab informed that the total reduction is expected at $91 million (approximately $66 million through a combination of lower expenses and renegotiations with minority partners and an additional $25 million received as part of potential payments) as compared to the initial forecast as indicated post the AGM release date of 10 June 2013, the company said.

In terms of global tax estimates, Strides Arcolab said that the company earlier estimated global taxes of approximately $280 million. Based on the current tax laws and completion of financials for the purpose of the transaction, the company now expects global taxes to be at approximately $230 million, out of which approximately $180 million is estimated to be paid on consideration already received and the balance at the time of receipt of holdbacks.

On 5 December 2013, Strides Arcolab had said that it has completed sale of its Agila Specialties Division to Mylan Inc. for a total consideration of up to $1.75 billion.

Consequent to the warning letter received by the company in September 2013 for one of its units in Bangalore, Strides has agreed to a hold back of $250 million.

It may be recalled that Strides Arcolab had on 28 February 2013 announced the sale of its specialties subsidiary, Agila Specialties and simultaneously its overseas specialties subsidiary, Agila Specialties Asia Pte., Singapore has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its subsidiaries to Mylan Inc. The consideration for the transaction was pegged at $1,600 million in cash and potential additional consideration of up to $250 million at that time.

Upon release of contingent holdbacks and regulatory escrows, Strides expects an additional amount of approximately $250 million, available for distribution/buyback/growth. The company will make appropriate announcements on meeting the holdback conditions, which is expected to be achieved sometime in 2014, the company said in a press release.

Strides Arcolab has approximately $50 million of long term debt in its retained pharmaceutical business and has approximately$75 million of cash post initial closure of the transaction for growth, the company said.

Strides Arcolab's net profit declined 92.6% to Rs 2.22 crore on 10.8% growth in net sales to Rs 199.18 crore in Q2 September 2013 over Q2 September 2012.

Strides Arcolab is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Bangalore. The company develops and manufactures a wide range of IP-led niche pharmaceutical products. The company has 5 manufacturing facilities, presence in more than 75 countries in developed and emerging markets.

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First Published: Dec 10 2013 | 2:35 PM IST

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