Graphite India, Royal Orchid, SCI, Vijay Shanthi quarterly results

CORPORATE SCORECARD

Graphite India net profit up 55%

Graphite India has registered 55 per cent increase in net profit to Rs 193.87 crore in 2006-07 compared with Rs 62.95 crore in the corresponding period last year. Income from operations grew 38 per cent to Rs 900.01 crore during the year under review as against Rs 649.40 crore in the previous year. The improvement in the operating performance can be attributed to timely capacity expansion, higher realisation, better working capital management and persistent cost reduction efforts at all levels, the company said.

The company exports more than 70 per cent of its Graphite electrode production. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the prospects of the electrode division looks promising, the company said. The company sees the steel sector in India on a high trajectory of growth led by strong demand from infrastructure, automobiles, white goods and housing sectors.

Royal Orchid Q4 net up 34%

Bangalore: The Bangalore-based hotel chain Royal Orchid Hotels has posted 34 per cent jump in its net profit for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2007 compared with the same period of the last financial year. Chairman and managing director Chander Baljee attributed the growth in net profit to "better average room rates from the previous years and we have also managed to maintain our costs." Total income for the quarter grew by 28 per cent to Rs 26.77 crore. He added that the Royal Orchid hotels also maintain an average occupancy of around 80 per cent, in the last twelve months.

SCI net profit down 19 per cent

Mumbai: Shipping Corporation of India (SCIL) has announced a 19 per cent drop in net profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 from the corresponding quarter ended in March 2006. The company's profit after tax dropped from Rs 350.13 crore in the fourth quarter of 2006 to Rs 284.65 crore in the corresponding quarter of 2007. Total income during this period also dropped seven per cent from Rs 1,159.77 crore in 2006 to Rs 1,080.56 crore in 2007.

SCIL's profit after tax for the financial year 2006-07 declined three per cent to Rs 1,014.58 crore from Rs 1,042.20 crore in 2005-06. However, total income increased 12 per cent from Rs 3,762.33 crore in 2006 to Rs 4,210.36 crore in 2007. The company's Board has announced an interim dividend of 85 per cent per share. This 85 per cent interim dividend on paid-up equity would also be considered as the final dividend, SCIL has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Vijay Shanthi profit surges 154% to Rs 8 cr

Chennai: Vijay Shanthi Builders, a leading residential property development company based in Chennai, has posted net profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 8.1 crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2007, an increase of 154 per cent over Rs 3.2 crore posted in the previous year. In the financial year 2007, the company registered an income of Rs 108.88 crore, an increase of 40 per cent from Rs 78 crore posted in 2005-06. Gross profit during FY07 stood at Rs 12.27 crore, an increase of over 153 per cent over FY06.

During the financial year, Vijay Shanthi Builders developed close to 200,000 square feet of residential space at prime localities in Chennai. The company is, currently, undertaking 15 projects totalling 500,000 square feet of residential space in and around Chennai. The value of projects on hand is worth Rs 1,360 crores. The company has witnessed a sustained growth for the last two financial years, despite increase in raw material costs and tougher interest rate situation, a company statement said.