Strides Arcolab Ltd, a specialty pharmaceuticals company with presence in generics, OTC and nutraceuticals has reported improved results for the first quarter ended March 2005. The company's consolidated net profit jumped by 31.8 per cent to Rs 10.99 crore from Rs 8.34 crore in the corresponding period of last year. The earning per share went up to Rs 3.18 from Rs 2.47 in the last period.

On a consolidated basis, the company achieved net sales of Rs 105.50 crore as against Rs 93.78 crore, registering a growth of 13 per cent. The Indian operations reported total revenue of Rs 71.78 crore, a growth of 20 per cent over the similar period in the previous year. Net Profit has increased to Rs 6.22 crore against Rs 4.29 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year -a growth of 45 per cent.

Company's continued focus on regulated markets and Global disease management segments have yielded rich dividends. For the quarter, sales from these markets have increased to 45 per cent and 42 per cent on a consolidated and stand alone basis respectively from 30 per cent and 24 per cent in similar period in the previous year.

During the quarter, the company has increased its stake in Latin American operations from 40 per cent to 52.5 per cent and submitted its first ANDA to the US FDA. During February 2005, company has allotted 11,96,662 equity shares of Rs 10/- at a premium of Rs 190/- per share to Elcemer Almeida & Associates. As a result, the equity capital of the company has gone up to Rs 34.95 crore from Rs 33.76 crore.