How has been the historical performance of Soma Papers?

Answer:The historical performance of Soma Papers shows a trend of negative profit before tax over the years, with values of -0.22 Rs cr in Mar'12, improving slightly to -0.02 Rs cr by Mar'17. The adjustments remained minimal and consistent, indicating stable operational adjustments. Changes in working capital fluctuated, with a notable decrease in Mar'13 at -0.09 Rs cr, but rebounding to 0.03 Rs cr in both Mar'16 and Mar'17. Cash flow after changes in working capital also showed a gradual improvement, moving from -0.40 Rs cr in Mar'12 to a positive 0.01 Rs cr by Mar'17. Cash flow from operating activities followed a similar pattern, increasing from -0.45 Rs cr in Mar'12 to 0.01 Rs cr in Mar'17. The net cash inflow/outflow reflected a positive trend, with a net inflow of 0.01 Rs cr in Mar'17 compared to a net outflow of -0.74 Rs cr in Mar'12. The opening cash and cash equivalents showed a decline from 4.70 Rs cr in Mar'12 to 1.34 Rs cr in Mar'17, while the closing cash and cash equivalents slightly increased to 1.35 Rs cr in Mar'17.

Breakdown:
Soma Papers has experienced a challenging financial trajectory, with consistent losses reflected in profit before tax, which improved from -0.22 Rs cr in Mar'12 to -0.02 Rs cr in Mar'17. The company has managed to stabilize its working capital changes, achieving a positive 0.03 Rs cr in the last two years of the reporting period. Cash flow metrics indicate a recovery, with cash flow after changes in working capital transitioning from -0.40 Rs cr in Mar'12 to a positive 0.01 Rs cr in Mar'17, and cash flow from operating activities following suit. The net cash inflow has also shown improvement, moving from a significant outflow of -0.74 Rs cr in Mar'12 to a modest inflow of 0.01 Rs cr in Mar'17. Despite a decline in opening cash and cash equivalents over the years, the closing balance saw a slight increase, indicating a cautious yet positive shift in liquidity by the end of the period.