Hero Honda FY’06 net up 20%

‘‘Operating margins in the current fiscal would be under tremendous pressure due to steep rise in input costs,’’ Hero Honda managing director Pawan Munjal said when asked about the profitability estimates for the current fiscal.

Operating margins for the company for 2005-06 stood at 15.70 per cent, a shade lower than 15.75 per cent in the previous year.

The company’s total turnover in 2005-06 was up 17 per cent at Rs 8,866.7 crore against Rs 7,558.5 crore in 2004-05.

The company said it had been gradually scaling up capacity at its existing plants at Dharuhera and Gurgaon, both in Haryana.

‘‘Expansion of 4.5 lakh units at Gurgaon plant is already completed at an investment of Rs 47 crore and expansion of additional 4.5 lakh units Dharuhera plant at an investment of Rs 96 crore is underway which would be operational by August 2006,’’ he said, adding that total expected capacity by september this year would be 39 lakh units annually.

Hero Honda shares, however, slipped 4.83 per cent at the Bombay Stock Exchange at Rs 803.7 against the previous day closing at Rs 844.4.

For the quarter-ended March 31, the company’s net profit was up 29 per cent at Rs 267.1 crore against Rs 207.1 crore. Total turnover in the period was up 16 per cent at Rs 2,298.9 crore against Rs 1,976 crore.

Bombay Dyeing Q4 net loss at Rs 7.40 cr

MUMBAI: Bombay Dyeing & Manufacturing Company Ltd, the Wadia group flagship, on Tuesday posted a net loss of Rs 7.40 crore for the quarter-ended March 31 as compared to a net loss of Rs 3.44 crore for the same quarter in 2004-05.

Total income (net of excise) for the fourth quarter in 2005-06 dipped 24.73 per cent to Rs 218.85 crore from Rs 290.73 crore in the year-ago period, the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

For the year 2005-06, the net profit stood at Rs 61.34 crore as against Rs 26.56 crore for the year 2004-05. The total income (net of excise) for FY 2005-06 was Rs 1,034.14 crore as compared to Rs 1,049.39 crore in FY 2004-05.

The shares of the company closed at Rs 740.55, down 2.04 per cent at the BSE.

LML net loss at Rs 26 cr

MUMBAI: LML Ltd on Tuesday posted a net loss of Rs 26 crore for the quarter- ended March 31, 2006 as compared to a net profit of Rs 1.19 crore in the corresponding quarter in 2004-05.

The total income for the quarter increased 14.64 per cent to Rs 65.85 crore from Rs 57.44 crore in the year-ago period, the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.The board has decided to extend the current financial year, from 12 months to 18 months, subject to the requisite approvals.