Cranes Soft, Dabur Pharma & Euro Ceramics Q1 results

CORPORATE SCORECARD

Cranes Soft net jumps 29%

With strategic acquisitions made during the last six months and positive growth in the domestic market, Cranes Software International, a provider of scientific and engineering products and solutions, has posted a 29 per cent growth in net profit to Rs 24.6 crore compared with the corresponding quarter in the previous financial year. Consolidated revenues for the quarter increased by 32 per cent to Rs 84 crore.

Asif Khader, managing director, Cranes Software, said, "We have witnessed a solid start to the first quarter of the current financial year. The growth has been possible despite a very unfavourable impact of foreign exchange, with almost 80 per cent of our operations being international and largely in the dollar. The growth achieved is indicative of the robust strategies and systems of business solicitation and execution in place."

Dabur Pharma profit up at Rs 133 cr

Dabur Pharma has registered an impressive 28 per cent growth in net turnover from oncology business for the quarter ended June 2007. Net turnover, exclusively from oncology sales during the quarter was Rs 74 crore compared with Rs 81.1 crore in combined turnover from oncology and non-oncology products during the corresponding period of the previous year.

The company divested its non-oncology business during the quarter to become the only oncology specialty company of the country. Profits during the quarter jumped to Rs 133.4 crore compared with Rs 6.6 crore in the previous comparable quarter due to the inclusion of proceeds (Rs 125.3 crore) from the divestment of non-oncology business. In real terms, profits increased 51.5 per cent for the quarter.

"Strong business performance in key markets with good volume in formulations business, combined with productivity improvements have contributed considerably to the company's progress in this quarter. Its performance from emerging markets such as southeast Asia, central and Latin American countries has been in line with our expectations," Ajay K Vij, CEO, Dabur Pharma, said.

Euro Ceramics net up 50%

Euro Ceramics, manufacture of vitrified tiles, has posted 50 per cent increase in its net profit at Rs 8 crore for the quarter ended June 30 compared with Rs 5.4 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

During the quarter, company commissioned a 45,000 mtpa plant to manufacture calcareous tiles. Spurt in profit was driven by buoyant market conditions, said Paresh Shah, director of the company. He added that in the current financial year, calcareous tiles segment was expected to fetch higher operating margins.