May 6 (Reuters) - Indian air conditioner maker Blue Star reported a 17.1% rise in fourth-quarter profit on Wednesday, helped by greater demand for the appliance in homes ahead of the summer.
The company's consolidated net profit rose to 2.27 billion rupees ($23.99 million) from 1.94 billion rupees a year ago.
Here are some details:
o Revenue from Blue Star's unitary products business - which accounts for about half of its topline - rose 1.3%, boosted by stronger March sales to distributors and wider retailer stocking ahead of summer
o Overall revenue rose 1.3% to 40.72 billion rupees
o Blue Star said demand for room ACs picked up towards the end of the fiscal year, helping the firm post its highest ever quarterly revenue
o Profit was also aided by a one-time gain of 175.2 million rupees from a partial reversal of charges related to India's labour codes
o The ongoing Middle East crisis could lead to supply chain disruptions and could dampen growth, Managing Director Vir S. Advani said in a statement
($1 = 94.6100 Indian rupees)
(Reporting by Mridula Kumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
