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Regular-article-logo Tuesday, 17 June 2025

CEMENT, JUTE GET PRIORITY IN BIRLA CORP RECAST DRIVE 

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FROM VIVEK NAIR Published 26.10.00, 12:00 AM
Mumbai, Oct 26 :    Mumbai, Oct 26:  Birla Corporation Ltd (BCL), an M P Birla group company, with diversified interests ranging from cement, jute goods, blended yarn, calcium carbide and industrial gases, vinoleum floor covering, wallpapers and auto trims, is planning to restructure its business. The restructuring may result in the company exiting some of these businesses and attaining a 'lean and mean' structure, industry sources said. It is believed that BCL may, at a later point of time, exit from the synthetics and vinoleum businesses and focus on cement and jute sectors as its core areas of interest. However, this could not be confirmed from the company as senior officials denied any knowledge of such a move. BCL has appointed advisors to review its business operations in the light of its current financial position, sources added. The advisors will also suggest a strategy to push growth levels. BCL, which recorded a sales turnover of over Rs 1011 crore for the year ended March 31, 2000, however, showed a net loss of Rs 55 crore for the year. BCL is now contemplating a rights issue to meet the capital expenditure on upgradation of its cement plant at Chittorgarh and to partly fund the cash losses of over Rs 48 crore incurred during the previous years. While the company is yet to decide on the pricing of the issue, market circles believe it to be in the range of Rs 10-14 per share. BCL, which was promoted in 1919 by G D Birla, saw a change in its focus from being a jute mill to a multi-product company with six major divisions, when it passed on to M. P Birla. After the latter's death, Priyamvada Birla took over as chairman in the 1990. In cement, which contributes to over 80 per cent of the company's revenue, BCL's total installed capacity after commissioning of the Rae Bareilly unit in Uttar Pradesh stands at 39 lakh tonnes. Thus it has six plants, two each at Satna in Madhya Pradesh, and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan, one at Durgapur and the Rae Bareilly plant. In the jute segment, the company produces well over 40,000 tonnes. The synthetics division manufactures spun yarns where the major products are viscose yarn, polyester yarn, polyester/viscose blended yarn and polyester/cotton blended yarn.    
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