Aptech announces 1:1 bonus, 30 pc dividend

Aptech has also firmed up an employee stock option plan (ESOP) covering 200 employees at Rs 490 per share amounting to five per cent of its paid-up capital. It had, pre-listing, given an ESOP to its top 40 employees amounting to 1.8 per cent of its paid-up capital.

Nishar stated that Aptech, whose reserves and surplus vaulted by 234 per cent to Rs 227 crore, had become a net cash surplus as also a debt-free company.

Global revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, rose by 40 per cent to 394.09 crore during the year, he said. Nishar pointed out that the earnings per share (EPS) on an enhanced equity capital (Rs 12.50 crore) as on December 31, 1999 stood at Rs 40.84 as against Rs 30.19 on an equity capital of Rs 11.16 crore the previous year.

During the year it earned an income of Rs 252.04 crore from education and training, Rs 25.62 crore from software solutions and other income of Rs 76.59 lakh, while it incurred a total expenditure of Rs 285.32 crore (Rs 218.39 crore last year).

Interest expenditure declined by 78 per cent to Rs. 225.59crore while depreciation was sharply up at Rs. 19.34 crore (Rs. 8.03 crore). Provision for taxation was Rs. 9.51 crore (Rs. 7.98 crore).

During the fourth quarter ended December 31, aptech’s netprofit shot up 56 per cent to Rs. 16.61 crore on a total revenue growth of 35 per cent at Rs. 88.83 crore compared to the corresponding quarter last year.

Total expenditure in Q4 was up by 34 per cent to Rs. 62.89crore and interest expenditure declined by 122 per cent from Rs. 3.08 crore in the comparative quarter last year.