Aventis Pharma, a Rs 780-crore plus MNC, has reported a fall in net profit by 26.3 per cent during the first quarter ended March 2005 to Rs 23.6 crore from Rs 32 crore in the similar period of last year. The net profit is down mainly on account of exceptional items (income) of Rs 6.8 crore in the last period. However, its profit before tax and exceptional items moved up by 7.9 per cent to Rs 42.5 crore from Rs 39.4 crore. The Board of Directors had recommended a final dividend of Rs 12.5 per equity shares of Rs 10 for the year ended December 2004.

The company's net sales increased marginally by 3.8 per cent to Rs 174.1 crore from Rs 167.8 crore. The other income including interest income increased to Rs 7.4 crore from Rs 3.4 crore in the corresponding period of last year. The staff cost went up to Rs 18.4 crore from Rs 14.6 crore mainly due to VRS expenses of Rs 3.6 crore. The earning per share for the quarter ended March 2005 worked out to Rs 10.26 as against Rs 13.88 in the last period.