The company had announced first interim dividend of Rs 2.70 per share in July this year. The cumulative revenue for the nine-month period was up 10.1 per cent to Rs 522 crore from Rs 474 crore in the corresponding period last year. Gross operating profit in the period under review was up by 14 per cent to Rs 103 crore, from Rs 90 crore in the corresponding period in 1998.

The cumulative PBT for the nine-month increased 13.6 per cent to Rs 96 crore while profit after tax was up by 20.4 per cent to Rs 67.5 crore. The consistent growth can be attributed to successful product relaunches, growth in all its brand categories and very tight cost management SBCH managing director Simon J Scarff. "In the new millennium, we intend to introduce our consumers to further product launches from our healthcare range," he said.