Kerala, October 28, 2009:Amara Raja Batteries Ltd, India’s leading Industrial and Automotive Battery company (BSE Code: 500008 & NSE Code: AMARAJABAT) has earned a net profit of Rs. 479 million during the second quarter ending 30 September 2009, recording a growth of 155% over Q2 of 2008-09. Net sales for Q2 of 2009-10 stood at Rs.3,606 million (Rs.3,386 million) and Profit Before Tax (PBT) is at Rs.731 million (Rs.288 million). Profits for the first half of the current financial year have exceeded FY 2009 full year profits.

Value in Rs. Million
	Half Year ended		Full Year
Particulars	30-Sep-09	30-Sep-08	2008 - 09
Net Sales	6,670	6,526	13,132
PBT	1,372	517	1,227
PAT	905	337	805

The Industrial Battery business has shown a steady growth in Q2. The UPS battery markets continue to remain robust. The company has completed Medium VRLA battery capacity expansion from 1.20 million units to 1.80 million units on schedule, which will provide growth and help in garnering additional market share going forward. Telecom market potential in near future is influenced by trends in infrastructure sharing, roll out of rural network and implementation of GSM projects by new licensees.

Growth in automotive OE business tracked the strong revival in passenger vehicle demand. The commercial vehicle segment has also begun to look up. The aftermarket continues to grow in both the formats of AMARON® and POWERZONETM. In the space of 2-wheeler battery market, AMARON ProbikeRiderTM has gained momentum and further capacity addition is on the anvil. Based on buoyant industry growth forecast, automotive battery business is expected to be on a strong growth path.

Commenting on the Company’s Q2 performance, Managing Director Mr. Jayadev Galla said: “We had a good growth in profitability aided by operational efficiencies and cost savings. The uncertainties in telecom infrastructure roll out and volatility in lead price might pose challenges in the second half of the current financial year. However, the expected double digit growth in automotive industry and projected GDP growth of more than 6% for the current fiscal are positive signals for the Industry.”

Mr. Suresh K, Financial Controller, Amara Raja Batteries, said: “Continuing healthy cash flows aided by higher profitability and better working capital management helped us to retire high cost long term debt well ahead of schedule.”

About Amara Raja Batteries Ltd

Amara Raja Batteries Limited, an Amara Raja- Johnson Controls company with 26% equity from Johnson Controls, is the technology leader and is one of the largest manufacturers of lead acid batteries for both industrial and automotive applications in the Indian storage battery industry.

In India, Amara Raja is the preferred supplier to major telecom service providers, telecom equipment manufacturers, UPS Segments (OEM &Replacement), Indian railways and to power, Oil & Gas among other industry segments. Amara Raja manufactures and sells automotive batteries under the Brand Name AMARON which is distributed through a large pan-India sale-service retail network.

Company supplies automotive batteries under OE relationships to Ashok Leyland, General motors, Hindustan Motors, Honda, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti, Hyundai and Tata Motors. The company is an exclusive supplier to Daimler Chrysler, Ford and Swaraj Mazda. The company’s Industrial and Automotive batteries are exported to Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions. The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls also provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with system engineering and service expertise. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), founded in 1885, is head quartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its sales for 2009 totaled US $ 28.5 billion.

Safe Harbor
Some of the statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements. These forward looking statements include our financial and growth projections as well as statements concerning our plans, strategies, intentions and beliefs concerning our business and the markets in which we operate. These statements are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these statements as circumstances change. There are risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events to differ materially from these forward looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, the level of the market demand for our products, the highly competitive market for the types of the products that we offer, market condition that would cause our customers to reduce their spending for our products, our ability to create, acquire and build new businesses and to grow our existing businesses, our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, currency fluctuations and market conditions in India and elsewhere around the world, and otherwise not specifically mentioned herein but those that are common to industry.

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