Hester Biosciences Limited has fixed Tuesday, 14 July 2026 as the record date to determine shareholders eligible for the final dividend of ₹11 per equity share and for e-voting at its upcoming Annual General Meeting. The dividend, equivalent to 110% of the face value of ₹10 each, is subject to approval at the 39th AGM and deduction of applicable tax. This announcement follows the company's financial results for the year ended 31 March 2026, which highlighted a strong recovery in profitability.

The company reported a 64% increase in standalone profit after tax to ₹521.00 million for FY26, up from ₹318.42 million in the previous year. Consolidated profit after tax surged 99% to ₹574.84 million from ₹288.26 million in the prior year. Standalone revenue from operations for FY26 stood at ₹2,921.36 million, a 2% increase from ₹2,864.66 million, while consolidated revenue grew 7% to ₹3,325.99 million from ₹3,111.02 million.

The Board of Directors has recommended the final dividend amounting to ₹93.58 million, reflecting a payout ratio of 18% of standalone profits. The payment is scheduled on or after Tuesday, 28 July 2026. The company’s EBITDA increased by 56% to ₹871.03 million from ₹557.08 million, while the debt-equity ratio improved to 0.19 from 0.31 on a standalone basis.

Financial Performance

The following table summarizes the company’s financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2026:

Operational Highlights

The Poultry Healthcare division drove growth, recording a 24% increase in revenue. The Animal Healthcare segment faced challenges due to delays in government-led immunisation programmes. The company capitalised its Fill-Finish and BSL-3 facilities during the year to enhance manufacturing capabilities. It also received marketing and manufacturing licences for its H9N2 low pathogenic Avian Influenza vaccine and undertook a partial divestment of its stake in Texas Lifesciences Private Limited, reducing its holding from 54.81% to 11%.

Corporate Governance

The 39th Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 21 July 2026, at 10:30 AM (IST) via Video Conferencing. Shareholders can participate in remote e-voting from 9:00 a.m. (IST) on Saturday, 18 July 2026, to 5:00 p.m. (IST) on Monday, 20 July 2026.

Hester Biosciences Limited has filed its Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) for the financial year ended 31 March 2026, disclosing a total energy consumption of 53.09 Tera Joules and Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions of 8,626 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent. The report, submitted to BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited, highlights the company’s adherence to environmental and social governance standards, including zero safety incidents for the year and 100% sustainable sourcing from critical suppliers.

Environmental Performance

The company’s total energy consumption for FY26 stood at 53.09 Tera Joules, a decrease from 57.50 Tera Joules in the previous year. Energy from renewable sources accounted for 0.35 Tera Joules, while non-renewable sources contributed 52.74 Tera Joules. The energy intensity per rupee of turnover remained constant at 0.02. Total greenhouse gas emissions, comprising Scope 1 and Scope 2, totaled 8,626 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent, down from 9,534 metric tonnes in FY25. The emission intensity per rupee of turnover improved to 2.95 from 3.33 in the prior year.

Water withdrawal decreased to 36,588 kilolitres in FY26 from 47,730 kilolitres in FY25, resulting in a water intensity per rupee of turnover of 12.52. The company reported total waste generation of 949.50 metric tonnes, with 99.53 metric tonnes recycled and 851.55 metric tonnes disposed of via incineration and landfilling. The company confirmed compliance with the Water Act, Air Act, and Environment Protection Act, holding a valid Consent to Operate from the Gujarat State Pollution Control Board.

Social and Governance Metrics

Hester Biosciences reported a workforce of 483 permanent employees and 321 workers as of 31 March 2026. Women constituted 9% of the permanent workforce and 3% of the total workers. The company achieved 100% coverage for health and accident insurance for permanent employees and workers. Return to work and retention rates for permanent employees and workers who took parental leave were both 100%. There were no reported cases of sexual harassment, discrimination, child labour, or forced labour during the year.

The company spent 1.16% of its total revenue on employee well-being measures, up from 1.08% in the previous year. It conducted training programmes covering health, safety, and skill upgradation for 100% of its employees and workers. The Board of Directors included two women, representing 20% of the Board.

Operational and Financial Disclosures

The company’s turnover for FY26 was INR 2,921.36 million, with exports contributing 11% to the total turnover. It serves markets across India and in over 35 countries internationally. The report identified material responsible business conduct issues including GHG emissions, waste management, water management, and talent retention, classifying them primarily as risks with potential negative financial implications.

The following table summarizes key environmental metrics for the financial year 2025-26:

The report confirms that the company has not conducted an independent assessment or evaluation of the environmental data by an external agency.