BEL pays Rs 84.96 cr dividend

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Defence public sector undertaking Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) today paid a dividend of Rs 84.96 crore to the government.

Company's Chairman and Managing Director V V R Sastry presented the cheque to the Defence Minister A K Antony towards 140 per cent final dividend.

With this, the BEL has paid a total dividend of 180 per cent amounting to Rs 109.24 crore for the year 2006-07. This marks a 34 per cent increase over the 146 per cent dividend in 2005-06.

BEL also achieved its highest ever turnover of Rs 3,953 crore during 2006-07 with net profit of Rs 718.16 crore as against a turnover of Rs 3,536 crore during 2005-06 with profit of Rs 583 crore.

The company, which was granted Navratna status earlier this year, manufactures a range of hi-tech products like radars, sonars, wireless and electronic warfare systems for the armed forces.

UNI