Exide Industries, the country’s largest battery maker, has reported a near 16 per cent jump in net profit to ₹190 crore for the January to March quarter of FY18. Net profit in the year-ago quarter stood at ₹164 crore.

Revenue from operations during the period under review stood at ₹ 2459 crore. Exide, in a notice to the bourses said the revenues are not comparable to previous quarters since there has been a change in accounting treatment of indirect taxes post the roll-out of GST.

“Volumes in automotive, motorcycle, inverter, UPS, telecom and solar batteries as well as infrastructure segments were strong during the fourth quarter,” Gautam Chatterjee, MD and CEO, Exide Industries said.

For the full year, the company’s net profit saw a near 4 per cent decline, year-on-year, to ₹668 crore (as against ₹694 core in FY17). The company in a press release said profit for FY18 was “net of an exceptional item charged in second quarter (June-Aug) of FY18”.

The Board has also recommended a dividend of 80 paise (or 80 per cent), on each equity share of face value Re 1 each. Exide had on November 3, 2017 declared an interim dividend of ₹1.60 (or 160 per cent) on each equity share. The total dividend, stands at ₹2.40 (or 240 per cent).

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