The company's net profit increased to Rs 41.12 crore from Rs 33.26 crore reported during the corresponding period last fiscal. This has been mainly due to its sales in colour televisions in the domestic market.

Net sales rose to Rs 914.01 crore from Rs 784.31 crore during the period under review. However, the company's other income has come down to Rs 70 lakh from Rs 1.27 crore.

Gross profit after interest but before depreciation and taxation stands at Rs 55.38 crore (Rs 47.86 crore) during the first half ended September 30, 1998.

The company's expenditure for the first six months of the current fiscal was Rs 839.16 crore (Rs 719.87 crore). BPL paid an amount of Rs 20.17 crore (Rs 17.85 crore) towards interest. The company has also made a provision for taxation of Rs 5 crore (Rs 8 crore) during the period.

BPLSanyo sales drop

BPL Sanyo Utilities and Appliances has posted a 17 per cent drop in sales to Rs 71.31 crore for the six-month period ending September 1998, against Rs 85.92 crore in the corresponding period last year. A company release said the drop was owing to the discontinuance of the assembly of colour televisions. Net profit was also lower at Rs 4.23 crore (Rs 5.08 crore).