Orchid Chemicals jumps as net loss narrows in December quarter

Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals was locked at 5% upper circuit at Rs 45.15 at 12:19 IST on BSE after the company reported a reduced net loss in the quarter ended 31 December 2013 over the quarter ended 31 December 2012.

The result was announced after market hours on Tuesday, 11 February 2014.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 97.38 points or 0.48% at 20,460.75.

On BSE, so far 77,000 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 3.19 lakh shares in the past one quarter.

The stock hit a low of Rs 44.25 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 90.90 on 12 March 2012. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 35 on 2 August 2013.

The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 11 February 2014, sliding 16.91% compared with the Sensex's 1.9% fall. The scrip had also underperformed the market in past one quarter, declining 22.45% as against Sensex's 0.62% fall.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 70.45 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals (Orchid) reported a net loss of Rs 53.90 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2013, lower than net loss of Rs 72.36 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2012.

Orchid's revenue rose 19% to Rs 371.60 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2013 over the quarter ended 31 December 2012. EBITDA surged 368.9% to Rs 109.49 crore in the quarter ended 31 December 2013 over the quarter ended 31 December 2012.

Orchid had extended its last financial year (FY) 2012-13 by six months to 30 September 2013. Consequently, the current FY 2013-14 will consist of only six months i.e. from 1 October 2013 to 31 March 2014.

Commenting on the company's financial performance, Mr K Raghavendra Rao, CMD, Orchid said, "Though the company continues to face tight working capital situation, the approval for the Corporate Debt Restructuring Package (CDR), expected before end of February 2014 would facilitate completion of Pencillin and Carbapenem Business Transfer to Hospira and also bring in working capital availability from deal proceeds besides deleveraging debt profile. With this the company would be on a better platform to achieve improved performance in the quarters to come".

Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals is involved in the development, manufacture and marketing of diverse bulk activities, formulations and nutraceuticals.

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