Cipla Ltd, the Mumbai-based second largest Indian pharmaceutical giant, achieved an all round performance during the third quarter ended December 2005. Its net profit moved up sharply by 39.5 per cent to Rs 175.31 crore from Rs 125.67 crore in the corresponding period of last year. With this growth in profitability, Cipla's earning per share worked out to Rs 5.85 for the quarter under review as compared to Rs 4.19 in the last period.

The company's net sales increased by 30.9 per cent to Rs 780.62 crore from Rs 596.14 crore in the similar period of last year. Its export earnings have taken a quantum jump and have touched Rs 386.35 core from Rs 285.27 crore in the last year, registering a growth of 35.4 per cent. Among the major segments, anti-retrovirals, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerant segments have shown good performance in the domestic market.

The exports contributed to more than 49 per cent to its total sales as compared to 46 per cent in the last period. Formulations exports increased by 13.6 per cent to Rs 236.09 crore and APIs exports went up sharply by 94.2 per cent to Rs 150.26 crore. In the export markets, anti-retrovirals, anti-malarials, anti-asthmatics, anti-depressant and anti-epileptic segments have performed well. The company's domestic sales during the quarter ended December 2005 increased by 17.9 per cent to Rs 395.55 crore as against Rs 335.42 crore.

The company's other income of Rs 74.45 core during the third quarter of 2005-06 includes an amount of Rs 72.72 crore, the payment received against insurance claims in respect of damage to finished goods at the company's Bhiwandi godown caused by the floods in July 2005.

The company's net profit for the first nine months ended December 2005 increased by 36.1 per cent to Rs 409.31 crore from Rs 300.80 crore in the last period. Its net sales increased by 23.9 per cent to Rs 2115.13 crore from Rs 1706.94 crore. Exports touched Rs 991.61 crore from Rs 730.11 crore, registering a growth of 35.8 per cent. Formulations exports reached Rs 699.45 crore and that of APIs touched Rs 292.16 crore with significant rise of 37.8 per cent and 31.3 per cent respectively during first nine months. The earning per share for the nine months went up to Rs 13.65 as against 10.03 in the last period.