UB records 22 % volume growth in 2005-06, net profit at Rs 48.39 Cr.

Bangalore, Apr 27 (UNI) Beer major United Breweries today reported a 22 per cent volume growth in 2005-06 with sales significantly high at Rs 595.58 Crore over Rs 453.39 crore recorded in 2004-05.

The Company, in a release here, said that the net profit of Rs 48.39 Crore was more than triple the earnings of Rs 14.04 Crore in the previous year.

The fourth quarter ending March 31 recorded a turnover of Rs 191.78 Crore (Rs 133.54 Crore in Q4 of 2004-05) and a net profit of Rs 14.04 Crore (Rs 17.35 Crore) Kingfisher Strong had become the No.1 Strong Beer Brand in the country, selling over 17 million cases during the year, while Kingfisher Lager sets record sales of over 20m cases in the year.

UB continued to outperform the industry volume growth of 14 per cent for the year in both the strong and mild beer segments. It recorded 13 per cent growth in mild beer against a market growth of 9.4 per cent, and spectacular growth in strong beer of 36 per cent against a market growth of 16 per cent the company said.

During the last six months Kingfisher Strong has achieved the number one brand in Strong beer in India, joining Kingfisher as the leading brand in the mild beer segment. This has delivered further growth in the UBL market share rising to 40.7 per cent (combined business of MABL and UBL has increased to 50.3 per cent) at the end of March 2006.

The release said that the Board also approved a split of the equity stock of the company, from nominal a value of Rs 10 per share to Re One per share. The process to effect this change was underway.

This aims to increase the market liquidity in response to requests from shareholders given the excellent performance of UBL's shares the release said.

The Company has entered in to an agreement with the Promoters of Karnataka Breweries and Distilleries Private Limited (KBDL), for acquiring the brewery entity of the undertaking under demerger for a total consideration of Rs 186 Crores against which a sum of Rs 123 Crores has been paid.

UNI VK MSP TS1504