Aventis Pharma, a major MNC, has achieved excellent financial performance during the year ended December 2004 and its net profit has taken a quantum jump of 50.6 per cent to Rs 148.5 crore from Rs 98.60 crore in the previous year. Its net sales increased by 12.8 per cent to Rs 735 crore from Rs 651.6 crore. The earning per share worked out to Rs 64.48 as compared to Rs 42.80 in the 2003.

The company declared final dividend of Rs 12.50 per share of Rs 10 each. It paid interim dividend of Rs 3.50 per share in August 2004. Its other income moved up by 37.1 per cent to Rs 21.80 crore from Rs 15. 9 crore. The cost of raw material increased to Rs 344.7 crore from Rs 337.5 crore and its staff cost went up to Rs 63.20 crore from Rs 54.9 crore. The company has shown exceptional income of Rs 6.80 crore, which received from sales of land and development rights.

Aventis is holding 49 per cent stake in an unlisted joint venture company - Chiron Behring Vaccines Pvt Ltd, which is engaged in the manufacture of vaccines.