Aventis Pharma Ltd improved its performance during the second quarter ended June 2004. The net profit went up by 40 per cent to Rs 33.40 crore from Rs 23.30 crore in the corresponding period of last year. The Board of Directors has recommended an interim dividend of Rs 3.50 per share. The earning per share worked out to Rs 14.53 for the second quarter of 2005 as against Rs 10.13 for the last period.

The company's net sales moved up by 6.7 per cent to Rs 185 crore from Rs 173.30 crore in the similar period of last year. The cost cutting measures helped the company to reduce its manufacturing spending. The gross profit touched to Rs 56 crore from Rs 39.10 crore