Bajaj Finance reported a net profit of ₹315 crore in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015-16 against ₹231 crore in the same period of last year, indicating a growth of 36 per cent year-on-year.

Total income in Q4 FY16 rose 35 per cent to ₹1,957 crore (₹1,445 crore in Q4 FY15).

Consumer acquisition rose 36 per cent to 1.58 crore from 1.16 crore in Q4 FY15.

Loan losses and provisions in Q4 rose 37 per cent to ₹156 crore (₹114 crore in FY15). The company continued to strengthen its provisioning policy.

Full-year performance For the fiscal, the Pune-based company posted a 42 per cent growth in net profit to ₹1,279 crore from ₹898 crore in FY15.

Total income rose 36 per cent to ₹7,384 crore (from ₹5,418 crore in FY15), while customers acquired rose 39 per cent to 6.8 crore (4.9 crore).

The board of directors, at its meeting held on March 9, declared an interim dividend of ₹18 per share of face value ₹10 (180 per cent). The board has recommended a final dividend of ₹7 per share for FY16 aggregating to ₹25 per share (250 per cent; previous year 180 per cent).

As on March 31, 2016, assets under management (AUM) stood at ₹44,229 crore, a 34 per cent growth over the ₹32,410 crore recorded in FY15.

Loan losses and provisions in FY16, at ₹543 crore, were 41 per cent higher than the ₹385 crore in FY15.

As of March 31, gross and net NPAs (non-performing assets) stood at 1.23 per cent and 0.28 per cent, respectively. The provisioning-coverage ratio stood at 77 per cent. The company continues to provide for loan losses in excess of RBI requirements.

On the BSE, the Bajaj Finance scrip closed 0.67 per cent lower at ₹7,599.