India's largest manufacturer and distributor of alcoholic beverages, United Breweries, has posted a two-fold increase in its net profit that stood at Rs 212 million for the quarter that ended on March 31. Last year, in the same period, UB had netted Rs 107 million.

The company's net sales also surged by 43% to Rs 1.91 billion, compared with Rs 1.33 billion in the same period last year. For the entire fiscal year, 2005-06, UB registered a 27% increase in net sales for the fiscal year 2005-06 at Rs 5.8 billion, against Rs 4.5 billion in the previous year.

The company's net profit, year on year, shot up by more than three times to Rs 483 million, against Rs 140 million last year.