Calcutta, April 19 :    Calcutta, April 19:  The Magors do not intend to sell the gardens belonging to George Williamson (Assam) and intend to pursue a policy of 'judicious acquisition' of tea estates in Assam. 'We are long-term buyers, not sellers. We have been operating in India for 150 years and we have an on-going commitment to quality tea production,' Philip Magor, chairman of Williamson Tea, told The Telegraph over the phone from London. Williamson Tea Holdings plc will take full managerial control of George Williamson. It owns 17 tea estates in Indian and four in Kenya, Magor was attempting to cap speculation in the media that the family would be scouting for a buyer for its tea interests in India after they dissolve their 40-year-old partnership with the B.M. Khaitan Group. 'We have been partners with the Khaitan family for many years,' Magor said. 'However, recently, both sides felt it was better for the long-term development of our respective businesses for us to separate and for Williamson Tea Holdings to take full control of all our growing manufacturing and support services in India. In future, all tea sold by us will be produced on our own estates to our demanding standards of quality.' Magor added, 'This arrangement is entirely amicable, and reflects the various parties' long-term strategic interests. Our motto for years has been to stick to tea and that's exactly what we are doing.' 'In the last few years, we have been increasingly focused on the production of high quality teas. It makes more sense for us to control the whole production process so that we can achieve the consistent standards of quality we are looking for,' he said. Magor will be coming to Calcutta to attend a board meeting of George Williamson (Assam) on April 24. During his visit, he will hold talks with the Khaitans on disentangling their cross holdings in group companies. The Khaitans hold 9 per cent in George Williamson while the Magors have a 26 per cent stake in the Khaitan-owned Williamson Magor. These cross shareholdings will be eliminated in time, subject to regulatory approval, Magor added. As part of the company's long-term plans to build the Williamson brand, the names of member companies will be changed. Williamson Tea Holdings will become Williamson Tea, George Williamson (Assam) will be rechristened as Williamson Tea Assam, and George Williamson Kenya will become Williamson Tea Kenya. The Magors have been operating in Kenya for 50 years. The new managing director of Williamson Tea Assam will be S.K. Mitra. When contacted, Mitra said, 'I haven't been told yet when I shall join as managing director of the company.' Top-level officials feel that the differences between the partners arose after the Magors rejected the price at which the Khaitans had offered to sell two gardens - Behali and Mijicajan. Khaitans had asked for a price ranging between Rs 35-40 crore. 'The Magors found the price too steep,' officials said. Meanwhile, the news of split between the partners has sparked fears about the security of their jobs among the employees of George Williamson. However, officials said the Magors did not intend to retrench anyone.