Abbott India, a major MNC in India, has clocked lower net profit of Rs 62.87 crore during the full year ended November 2008 as compared to Rs 68.43 crore in the previous year. The net sales, however, improved by 11.1 per cent to Rs 665.70 crore from Rs 594.32 crore. The earning per share for the year worked out to Rs 43.62 as against Rs 46.01 in the previous year.

The company has recommended a dividend of Rs 14 per share or the year ended November 2008 on the capital of Rs 13.68 crore, which if approved, will absorb a sum of Rs 22.40 crore.

During the year 2008, the company bought back 7,97,500 fully paid-up equity shares of Rs 10 each, at a price of Rs 630 per share. Consequently the paid up equity share capital reduced to Rs 13.68 crore and aggregate public shareholding reduced to 42,47,056 equity shares (31.06 per cent).