Birla Corporation Ltd.

YEAR                       EVENTS
 1919 - The Company was incorporated at Calcutta.  The main object of
 the 
        company is to Manufacture Jute goods, calcium carbide, oxygen
 and
        acetylene gases, synthetic and viscose yarn and cement.
 
      - The Cement division comprises Satna Cement works and Birla
 Vikas
        Cement (new plant) at Satna (M.P.); the Birla Cement Works at
        Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) and Durgapur Cement Works at Durgapur
        (W. Bengal).
 
      - The Jute Mills division comprises of Birla Jute Mill at
 Birlapur,
        Bally Jute Mills (Bally-1) at Bally and Soorah Jute Mills
        (Bally-2) at Narkeldanga, all in W. Bengal.
 
      - The staple fibre division is known as Birla Synthetics and
 the
        calcium carbide division is known as Birla Carbide & Gases.
 
 1964 - The Oxygen & Acetylene Gas Unit was commissioned in August. 
 The
        Company also entered into an agreement with Indian Oxygen,
        Calcutta, for exlusive sale of its products on principal to
        principal basis.
 
 1966 - In August, 3,98,906 Bonus Equity shares issued in prop. 1:4.
 
 1967 - 7.86% II Pref. shares redeemed on 30th Sept., 75,000 III 9.3%
        Pref. shares issued at par.
 
 1969 - The Company entered into an agreement with Hindustan Steel,
 Ltd.
        for the purchase of blast furnace slag from the Durgapur
 Steel
        Plant to set up a slag-cement plant at Durgapur.  The
 Durgapur
        Slag-Cement unit comprising the fourth cement mill with an
        integrated E.S.P. unit was commissioned in March 1981.
 
 1970 - In March, 18,94,527 Bonus Equity shares issued in the prop.
 1:1.
 
 1979 - 39,89,054 Bonus Equity shares issued in prop. 1:1.
 
 1982 - The Company undertook a comprehensive modernisation scheme of
 its
        spinning unit phased over three years.
 
      - Bally Jute Co. Ltd., having two units viz. Bally-1 and
 Bally-2
        was amalgamated with the Company with effect from 1st April. 
 As
        per the scheme, a total of 1,02,370 equity shares of Rs 10
 each
        and 30,000 - 15% debentures of Rs 100 each were allotted to
 the
        members of Bally Jute Co. Ltd.  These debentures are
 redeemable
        at par on March '90.  The Bally-1 Jute Mill and Bally-2 Jute
 Mill 
        have come to be known as Bally Jute Mills and Soorah Jute Mill
 
        respectively.
 
      - 4,61,848 No. of equity shares issued on 1.4.1983 (prem. Rs 20
 per
        share) to financial institutions in conversion of loans/debs.
        (30,186 shares to ICICI; 1,666 shares to IFCI; 1,43,333 shares
 to
        IDBI; 1,43,333 shares to UTI and 1,43,333 shares to GIC and
 its
        subsidiaries).
 
      - The Company revalued the assets of its Birla Jute Mills, Birla
 
        Carbide & Gases and Birla Synthetics, all at Birlapur, Bally
 Jute
        Mills at Bally and Soorah Jute Mill at Narkeldanga as on 1st
        April.
 
 1983 - Two diesel generating sets of 4000 KW capacity each were
        installed and commissioned at Birla Vikas Cement Unit.
 
      - With effect from 7th February, the name of the company was
        changed from the Birla Jute Mfg. Co. Ltd. to Birla Jute &
        Industries, Ltd.  Effective 31st March 1997, the name was
 again
        changed from `Birla Jute & Industries Ltd.' to Birla Corp.
 Ltd.
 
      - With effect from 1st April, the Company cancelled its 23,642 -
 7
        1/2% preference shares of Rs 100 each and issued and allotted
 in
        lieu thereof 23,642 - 15% secured non-convertible redeemable
        debentures of Rs 100 each in the prop. of 1 debenture for
 every
        one such preference share.  These debentures are redeemable
 at
        par on 31st March, 1990 or earlier by giving three months'
 prior
        notice.
 
 1984 - The captive thermal plant of 4.5 MW at Chittorgarh was
        commissioned in December 1985.
 
      - In order to raise funds for substantial expansion in the
 capacity
        of the cement works at Chittorgarh, the Company issued 13
 1/2%
        convertible debentures of Rs 230 each for Rs 11.5 crores and
 15%
        non-convertible debentures of Rs 100 each for another Rs 8
        crores, Rs 30 from each convertible debenture was converted
 into
        3 equity shares of Rs 10 each on 1st July 1985.
 
      - 1,43,333 No. of equity shares issued (prem. of Rs 20 per
 share)
        to LIC on 1st September, in part conversion of loan.
 
 1985 - 15,00,000 shares issued at par on 1st July, in conversion of
        debs. 1,01,85,659 bonus equity shares issued in prop. 1:1.
 
 1986 - A letter of intent was received for increasing the installed
        capacity from 45,680 spindles to 50,000 spindles.  It was
        implemented during the year.
 
 1987 - The old wet process plant was affected by poor quality of
 coal
        but the modern dry process plant was affected by poor quality
 of
        coal.
 
      - The Birla Carbide & Gases unit suffered losses on account of
        increase in the costs of power and carcoal coupled with sharp
        decline in the realisations.
 
      - A letter of intent was received for the setting up of a
 hydrogen
        peroxide plant of 4,500 TPa capacity on 100% concentration
 basis.
        Efforts were made to obtain technology and know-how for the
        project.
 
 1988 - As a part of modernisation programme, modern jute spreaders
 were
        introduced in both Birla and Bally Mills.  However, labour
 union
        at all the three mills were opposing the modernisation
 programme
        fearing retrenchment.
 
      - The inferior quality of coal and labour troubles coupled with
        sluggish demand for cement reduced the cement capacity
        utilisation at the old plant in Chittor.
 
      - The production at Birla Carbide & Gases unit was slightly
 lower
        due to a six week shut down of the plant for relining of
 furnace
        and lime kiln.
 
 1989 - An agreement was signed on 18th February, by the company and
 the
        Soviet Collaborators, viz. Odessa Technical Fabrics Mill and
 V/o
        Novoexport to transfer all assets and liabilities of Bally
 Jute
        Mills, with effect from 1st April or other date as agreed
 upon,
        to a new Joint Venture Company, Birla Odessa Industries Ltd.
 in 
        consideration of offer of equity shares of paid-up equity
 share
        capital of the Joint Venture Company.
 
      - A collaboration agreement was signed by the Company with
        EMPRWERKE of Germany for the manufacture of Automobile
 interior
        Door panels based on jute fibre.
 
      - A MOU was signed by the Company with Maruti Udyog Ltd. to
 supply
        door panels manufactured by them.
 
      - The Company initiated a fresh programme of modernisation.
 
      - As the long term prospect for the manufacture of calcium
 carbide
        in W. Bengal is not encouraging, application was made to
 Govt.
        for conversion of the furnaces to the manufacture of
        ferro-silicon.
 
 1990 - Production of both cement and clinker and despatches of cement
 
        were lower due to the prolonged disruption in production at
 the
        chittor cement works and due to labour unrest.
 
      - An application for a letter of intent for expansion at Satna
 was
        submitted for expansion of its capacity from 15.5 lakh tonnes
 to
        27.5 lakh tonnes.
 
      - In February, the company allotted 20,00,000-14% secured
        redeemable non-convertible debentures of 100 each to
 financial
        institutions on private placement basis.
 
 1991 - The break-up of the USSR, and the suspension of their
 purchasing
        during the second half of 1991-92 was a severe blow to the 
        Company.  But the benefits could not be reaped due to an
 industry
        wide strike that led to closure of the mills for seven weeks.
 
      - 11,000 high speed ring spindles, three high speed cards, five
        high speed draw frames were replaced and five sets of
        autolevellers were installed.  In addition, four Volkman TFO
        machines were also added to augment supply of knotless export
        yarn.
 
      - With a view to increase export of higher value added jute
        products, the export yarn unit at Birlapur was being expanded
 and
        quality upgraded while a new unit was being set up at Bally
 to
        produce high quality export yarn with upto-date technology.
 
      - Operations of the Satna plant were adversely affected due to
        heavy power cuts and shortage and poor quality of coal leading
 to
        lower production of clinker and cement.
 
      - The Chittor plant was awarded the second best productivity
 award
        for the year 1991-92 and 1993-94.
 
      - With the commissioning of two modified kilns with the
 installed
        capacity of each kiln increased to 900 TPD while energy
        consumption got reduced by 25%.
 
      - Birla Vinoleum's new PVC floor covering plant was fully
        installed.
 
      - The Company undertook to manufacture Cetaria ferro alloys in
 one
        of the furnaces of Birla Carbide.
 
      - India Linoleums Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company was
 amalgamated
        with the company effective 1st April.  As per the scheme, 1
        ordinary share of Rs 10 each of the Company was issued for
 every
        5 equity shares of Rs 10 each held in India Linoleum, Ltd.
        Accordingly, 700 ordinary shares of Rs 10 each were allotted
 to
        the shareholders of erstwhile India Linoleum, Ltd.
 
 1992 - The closure of the Company's Bally Jute Mills from 26th
 August,
        had also contributed to the low turnover and profits.
 
      - Due to severe labour problems, Bally Jute Mills suspended
        production from 26th August.  The continued loss of markets
 in
        Russia and other CIS countries was made up by increased export
 to
        GCA markets.  Bally Jute Mills reopened on 1st August 1993
 with
        the commissioning of sophisticated export yearn unit and high
        value fabric unit.
 
      - Production of Birla Synthetics division declined due to the
        shortage in the supply of viscose staple fibre from Grasim,
 the
        major supplier which had a closure of 60 days due to labour
        problems.
 
      - Additional autoconers, T.F.O. machines and other equipments
 were
        commissioned for catering to the export market.
 
      - Installation of high efficiency separators on all cement
 grinding
        mills.  The cement grinding mill was scheduled to be
 commissioned
        by September 1993.
 
      - The Company entered into a long term agreement with a German
        linoleum manufacture for technical help in upgrading the
 product
        and marketing it within Europe on a regular basis.
 
      - The revival and remodelling of the second submerged arc
 furnace
        was undertaken for the production of ferro manganese.
 
 1995 - Production of jute declined due to the industrywide strike
 called
        by the trade unions, shortage of fibre and acute shortage of
 raw
        jute resulting in an unprecendented rise in prices.
 
      - The company was setting up Dornier Looms at Birla Jute Mills
 to 
        produce Lino Hessian and other specialities to give a further
        boost to the production of export-oriented value added items.
 
      - Two DG sets of 6 MW capacity were to be installed at Satna and
 
        Chittor to meet the power shortages.                          
                                                    
 
 1996 - A joint venture company `Birla Redland Readymix Ltd.' was
        incorporated with Redland PLC, UK to set up facilities for
        manufacture of readymix cement concrete in India.
 
      - The company proposed to set up a 1.2 million plant each at
 Satna
        and Chittor.
 
      - India Linoleum unit was demerged from the company under a
 scheme
        of arrangement which provided for transfer of all assets and
        liabilities of the India Linoleum unit to Birla-DLW Ltd. a
 joint
        venture between the company and DLW Aktiengesellschaft of
        Germany.  This arrangement was effective from 1st April.
 
 1997 - As on 31st March, the Company held the entire issued share
        capital of its subsidiaries, Assam Jute Supply Co. Ltd.
 
      - Shareholders of Birla Jute & Industries Ltd at an extra
 ordinary
        general meeting which sought to authorise the board to change
 the
        name of the company to Birla Corp Ltd and to restructure the
        present businesses of the company.
 
      - Shareholders of Birla Corp (the erstwhile Birla Jute &
        Industries Ltd) on 16th July approved the company's proposal
 to
        promote a 50:50 joint venture with Redland Plc of the UK, but
        only after voicing their resentment over the decision.
 
 1998 - Birla Corp Ltd. of the M P Birla group is setting up a fly
        ash-based cement grinding unit at Rae Bareilly in Uttar
 Pradesh.
 
 1999 - The company is using slag in the range of 50-55 per cent with
 a
        small percentage of chemical additives to ensure strength,
        durability and anti-corrosive properties of its cement.
 
      - The company's Satna and Durgapur plants have been exporting
        large quantities of cement to Bangladesh and Nepal where
 prices
        have gone down substantially on account of cheaper supplies
 from
        China and Indonesia and the prevailing prices hardly give any
        contribution.
 
      - The company's installed capacity will go up to five million
        tonnes per annum.
 
 2000 - Due to the continuing strike by workers of the company's unit
 at
        Birla Jute Mills, Birlapur, which commenced since March 22,
 the
        management of the company has been constrained to declare a
        lock-out of the mills with effect from April 3.
 
        - The Company to increase the authorised share capital of the
 company
            from Rs. 75 crores to Rs. 100 crore.
 
         - The Company to issue ordinary shares of the company on
 rights basis to 
            the shareholders of the company in the ratio of three
 ordinary shares for 
            every 10 ordinary shares held within a price band of Rs.
 20 to Rs. 24.
 
 2002
 
 -Makes it clear not to invest further in Cement business.
 
 -Board approves the proposal to install power plants with a total
 capacity of 52 MW at its Cement Units at Satna.
 
 2003
 
 -Appoints Shri Jayant Kumar Ray as Nominee Director by IDBI on the
 board of the company, and Shri Pracheta Majumdar as the Additional
 Director on the Board of the company.
 
 -Receives 6 disclosures from Shri N K Kejriwal, Director and his
 family members.
 
 -Birla Corporation Ltd has informed that Shri. Ajay Saraf, Deputy
 General Manager, ICICI Bank Ltd., has been appointed as Nominee
 Director by ICICI Bank Limited in place of Shri Arnab Basu on the
 Board of the company.
 
 -Birla Jute Mills and Soorah Jute Mills have gone on strike on
 December 29, 2003.
 
 2004
 
 -Birla Corporation Ltd has informed that the ordinary shares of the
 Company have been delisted from DSE w.e.f. December 29, 2003.
 
 -Birla Corporation Ltd had informed regarding an indefinite strike at
 the company's units: Birla Jute Mills and Soorah Jute Mills. The
 company has now informed that following the industry-wide tripartite
 agreement, the workmen have agreed to call-off the strike immediately
 and resume normal work in the mills wef 6.00 am of January 10, 2004.
 
 -Chairperson Smt. Priyamvada Birla passes away on July 3, 2004
 
 2007
 
 -Birla Corporation Ltd has appointed Shri. B B Tandon as Director on
 the Board of the Company to fill the casual vacancy arising out of
 the sad demise of Shri. P K Kaul.
 
 2010
 
 - Birla Corporation Ltd has informed that at the Meeting of the Board
 of Directors held on April 22, 2010, Shri Deepak Nayyar and Shri
 Mahendra Kumar Sharma have been appointed as Additional Directors of
 the Company.
 
 2011
 
 -Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Government of
 Assam at Guwahati 
 
 2012
 
 -BirlaCorp - Expansion of Grinding Capacity at Durgapur
 
 -Trial production of clinker from the brownfield cement capacity
 expansion project of 1.2 Million Tonne at Chanderia has commenced
 
 2013
 
 -Birla Corporation Lt - Mining Operations at Chanderia
 
 2014
 
 -The Company has declared Dividend of Rs. 6.00 per share (i.e. 60%)
 on 7,70,05,347 ordinary shares for the Financial Year 2013-14
 
 2016
 -Birla Corporation completes acquisition of cement business of
 Reliance
 -The Company has signed a deal with RIL whereby it took over cement
 production unit of RIL for Rs 4,800 crore at a valuation of USD 140 a
 tonne.
 
 2017
 
 -The Company has consolidated its position in the Central zone, after
 acquisition of the Reliance units, to assume co-leadership position in
 the growing and profitable markets of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya
 Pradesh. 
 
 -M P Birla cement is now co leader in the fast growing central india
 market and bihar in the east with a strong brand folio straddling 
 across different price segment.
 
 -M P Birla Won Best Private Sector Organization Award at the
 inaugural session of NCQC'17, Mysore (1st-4th December'17).
 
 2018
 
 -Company received PAR Excellence Award for the Maihar IU team
 “Perfect” from the Quality Circle Forum of India - Gwalior Chapter
 Competition.
 
 -Company received  One of the Top Taxpayer in the region Trophy by
 GST and Central Excise Commissionerate, Jabalpur.
 
 2019
 
 -company received Best Improvement Thermal Energy Performance 2018-19
 By NCCBM on 27.11.2019.
 
 -Company received Received from Indian Bureau of Mines, GoI, 23.11.21
 during the 5th Conclave of Mines and Minerals.
 
 2021
 
 -Company Awarded for contribution in the Cements, Paints and Allied
 Industries Sector.
 
 -Company received Platinum Award in Cement Sector for Outstanding
 Achievement in Environment Preservation.
 
 2022
 -Company received Greentech Corporate Governance Award 2022.
 
 2023
 -Birla Corporation Limited has won the Golden Peacock Award for
 Excellence in Corporate Governance.
 -PRSI National Award 2023 for BCL Annual Report 2022-23 (second
 prize).