GSK Pharma Q4 net at Rs 68 cr, to pay Rs 31/shr

Drug firm GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals posted a net profit of Rs 67.79 crore for the fourth and final quarter ended December 31, 2006 as against Rs 42.38 crore in Q4FY05.

According to a release issued to the BSE today, the board has declared a dividend of Rs 17 per share and a special additional dividend of Rs 14.

Total income (net of excise) of the company was Rs 350.21 crore for the fourth quarter whilse the same was Rs 344.27 crore in the previous fiscal.

GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals said that the sale of its animal health business to Virbac Animal Health India was completed effective from the close of business hours of July 31, 2006 at a profit of Rs 187.03 crore.

Accordingly, the figures for the current year are to that extent not comparable with those of the previous year, the release added.

The audited consolidated results for the year ended December 31, 2006, show that the group posted a net profit of Rs 551 crore whereas the same was Rs 507.14 crore for same period in 2005.

Total income (net of excise) was Rs 1,678.38 crore while the same was at Rs 1,584.60 crore for the year ended December 31, 2005.