Calcutta, April 25: Paper manufacturer Ballarpur Industries (BILT) posted a 10.15 per cent rise in net profit for the third quarter ended March 31, 2011 over the same period last fiscal. Net profit stood at Rs 60.63 crore for the quarter against Rs 55.04 crore registered in the same period previous fiscal.

BILT follows a July 1– June 30 financial year.

BILT managing director R.R. Vedarah said a Rs 1,500-crore investment in the last three years had allowed the company to expand its capacity and this was the primary reason for the rise in margins.

The company has installed two paper machines at its facilities at Ballarpur and Bhigwan in Maharashtra.

The company’s net sales rose to Rs 1,164.35 crore for the quarter compared with Rs 1,032.37 crore in the same period previous fiscal.

Earnings per share for the quarter was Rs 0.75 compared with Rs 0.70 registered in the previous quarter.

Total paper production stood at 2.20 lakh tonnes for the quarter compared with 2.06 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last fiscal.

Part of the $4-billion Avantha Group, BILT is the largest manufacturer of writing and printing paper.

Geometric

Geometric Limited, a specialist in engineering solutions, services and technologies, has posted a 50.8 per cent rise in net profit in the March quarter at Rs 17.84 crore against Rs 11.83 crore in the same period a year ago.

Net profit for the financial year 2010-11 increased 23.3 per cent to Rs 57.52 crore from Rs 46.66 crore in the previous fiscal.