Future Gaming & Hotel Services Pvt Ltd wasn't just remarkable for the fact that it contributed more through
electoral bonds
(Rs 1,368 crore) than any other single entity between April 12, 2019 and Jan 24, 2024. Even more remarkable was the fact that this was equivalent to more than six times its combined
net profit
of Rs 215 crore for the last three years for which data is available.
The list of
corporate entities
that donated more than Rs 50 crore through
EBs
during this five-year period includes a few others that have seemingly parted with more than they earned by way of
profits
.
Then there are some who would appear to have given away a sizeable chunk of their earnings.
IFB Agro Industries
, for instance, had combined net profits of Rs 175 crore from 2019-20 to 2022-23. It donated Rs 92 crore or 53% of this amount. Similarly,
Haldia Energy
garnered combined net profits of Rs in the three years for which data is available and contributed Rs 377 cr or about 37% of what it earned.
Not all of the big donors have stretched themselves beyond their means. Among the bigger listed firms - like the mining and metals giant Vedanta or Jindal Steel and Power and pharma majors Dr Redddy's and Torrent Pharmaceuticals - that contributed Rs 50 cr or more, donations account for under 1% of their net profits over four years (or three years where data for 2022-23 was not available) in some cases and from 2-4% for others.
Bharti Airtel, among the most successful telecom companies in India, has run losses for all of the four years, primarily due to exceptional expenditure. Its contribution of Rs 198 cr therefore cannot be calculated as a percentage of profits.
Many of the big donors were in sectors like infrastructure, mining and pharmaceuticals.
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