HCL joins billion dollar club

Over calendar year 2004, HCL Infosystems had launched a series of new products in the consumer PC segment, starting with a sub-Rs 15,000-PC and a sub-Rs 13,000 PC, both of which resulted in growing the company’s market share from around 4.1 per cent in the home PC space to around 10.9 per cent.

‘‘Growth rate of the segment post the launch of the PC range priced at Rs 12,990, was at 240 per cent in the consumer market,’’ said HCL Executive Vice-President, Marketing, George Paul.

HCL has now introduced a PC in the Rs 10,000 range, which it expects will ‘‘split open’’ the consumer PC space, leading to still higher volumes.

The impact of the new PC will be reflected in future quarters.

The company board has announced a final dividend of Rs 2 per fully paid-up equity share of Rs 2 each for the financial year 2004-05. Total revenue for the period stood at Rs 7,783.6 crore, 76 per cent up year-on-year and net profit amounted to Rs 227.7 crore, as compared to Rs 175.1 crore in the previous fiscal, a 9.8 per cent rise.

Revenue on a standalone basis for the year 2004-05 jumped to Rs 1,967.38 crore as against Rs 1,522.03 crore in the previous fiscal.