Aurobindo Pharma net loss widens to R129 cr

Aurobindo Pharma has reported a consolidated net loss of R128.91 crore for the June quarter as against a loss of R122.80 crore in the corresponding period last year due to high interest and manufacturing costs, the company said on Tuesday.

Its Ebitda also declined by 17.1% to R141.97 crore from R171.22 crore. Consolidated net sales of the company, however, rose to R1,197.44 crore from R1,065.02 crore for the same period a year ago The domestic sales increased by 4.9% to R349 crore from R333 crore and exports increased by 16.5% to R811 crore from R696 crore. The formulation sales grew by 5.1% to R655 crore from R623 crore and APIs sales improved by 27.9% to R587 crore from R459 crore.

N Govindarajan, MD, said, ?While we have recorded growth on our top line, high cost of manufacturing like power and fuel, has impacted our operating profits.?

However, the company is positive that planned new formulation product launches along with growing business of high value active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in advanced markets are expected to augment its operational profitability as the year progresses. Formulations sales stood at R654.6 crore while API sales were at R587.1 crore, the company said in a notice to the exchanges. The formulations sales constitute 52.7%, while API?s form 47.3% of the gross sales, it added.

NHPC profit declines 15% to R670 crore

Governement-run NHPC on Tuesday reported 15% decline in its net profit at R670 crore for the quarter ended June.

?The company had reported a net profit of R791 crore in the same quarter of the last financial year,? NHPC said in a regulatory filing.

The company reported three per cent fall in its income from operations at R1,421.83 crore from R1,470.06 crore in the corresponding period of the last financial year.

NHPC has an installed capacity of more than 5,100 MW. It plans to commission 1,200 MW of capacity during the current fiscal, including spill-over from the last fiscal. Over 21,000 MW capacity of the company is under various stages of implementation.

The company is in preliminary talks with private companies to form joint ventures for executing hydro power projects. Shares of the company were trading at R18.20, up 1.11% on the BSE.

Tata Chemicals net dips 46% on plant shutdown

Tata Chemicals, the world?s second-largest soda ash manufacturer and India?s largest branded salt maker, said on Tuesday its net profit was lower 46% to R107.59 crore in the first quarter of fiscal 2012-13 as some of its plants suffered closure due to delay in raw material supplies and natural calamities. Net profit had stood at R199.87 crore in the year ago period.

Net sales was 3% higher at R3,020.89 crore against R2,923.67 crore a year ago. Operating profit, however, fell 12% to R357.98 crore in the quarter under review, from R404.55 crore.

?The company was faced with unprecedented challenges during the quarter which adversely impacted the operating performance,? said R Mukundan, MD. ?While the company had a marginal increase in turnover, the margins came under pressure due to plant shutdowns.?

In addition to a R62 crore impact of the weakening rupee, the quarter witnessed Haldia and IMACID (Morocco) plant closure for substantial part of the quarter due to delay in acid contract finalisation. Babrala (in UP), too, was shut for one month due to the annual turnaround. Magadi operations were affected due to floods caused by unseasonal heavy rains. ?All our facilities have now resumed operations in full strength,? he added.