Mumbai,2 November, 2019: Kansai Nerolac Paints Limited (KNPL), one of the leading Paint companies in India, today at the Board meeting announced its un-audited results for the secondquarter of financial year 2019-20. For the quarter, the company declared Net sale of Rs.1237Croresa de-growth of3.8% over the corresponding quarter of the previous year. For the half year ending September 30, 2019, the company declared a Net sale of Rs.2693.8 Crores a growth of 1.5 % over the corresponding period of the previous year.

EBIDTA was at Rs.212.9 crores a growth of 9.2 % over the same quarter of the previous year.Lower Tax has resulted in Net profit growth of 58.5 %. For the half year ending September 30, 2019, company reported an EBITDA of Rs. 462 Crores a growth of 11.2 % over the same period last year. Net profit growth was 30.4 %.

Commenting on the results, Mr. H. M. Bharuka, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd said,“Decorative segment has registered goodvolume and value growth in the given environment.This helped offset the continued and unprecedented slow-down in the automotive and other OEMs segmentswhere the company has a significant exposure. The company’s decorative sales were impacted due to factors like extended monsoon, floods in many key states and low off-take in Kashmir where KNP has a major presence. The company has been building traction in the niche business areas that the company is focusing on. Company was able to maintain growth in ARF, Protective Coating and Powder segments of the market. Our subsidiaries in Nepal and Bangladesh have done well.

During the quarter, input costs were stable and in line with the previous quarter trend.This along with judicious control on costs has helped improve the bottom-line. Exchange rate and crude oil prices continued to show volatilitycreating challenges in raw material cost management.Company commenced commercial operations at the Punjab plant. The company sees a slowdown in Decorative segment though it expects a revival once the unseasonal rains subside. Challenges of demand in Industrial are expected to continue for the near future.”

Outlook of Indian Paint Industry:

The size of domestic paint industry is estimated at Rs.50000crores as of Mar 2019. The good growth in infrastructure, core sector as well as automobile and real estate is likely to have a positive effect on the overall demand of paint for the industry.