Unichem Laboratories, a Rs 675 crore plus Mumbai based pharma major, has reported single digit growth in sales and profits during the year ended March 2010. Its net profit increased by 7.4 per cent to Rs 133.93 crore from Rs 124.75 crore in the previous year and its net sales moved up by 5.4 per cent to Rs 683.84 crore from Rs 648.87 crore. The company's domestic sales went up by 8 per cent to Rs 550.06 crore from Rs 509.20 crore, but its international sales declined by 10.9 per cent to Rs 131.54 crore from Rs 147.65 crore.

The Board has recommended second equity dividend of 140 per cent on a share of Rs 5 each making the total equity dividend of 200 per cent for the year 2009-10 as against 160 per cent in the previous year.

Unichem's earnings before depreciation, interest, taxation and adjustment increased by 12.9 per cent to Rs 185.93 crore from Rs 164.65 crore. Its staff cost increased to Rs 85.96 crore from Rs 79.22 crore The interest burden is very low at Rs 0.50 crore. Its taxation provision went up to Rs 30.37 crore from Rs 19.20 crore, a rise of 58.2 per cent. The earnings per share improved marginally to Rs 37.14 from Rs 34.61 in the last year.