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History of Tata Chemicals Ltd.

1939

- The Comp. was Incorporated on 23rd January, at Mumbai. The Company Manufacture salt, by-products of salt, alkalies, heavy chemicals and insecticides & flux technical & battery grades.

- 37,000 equity shares issued without payment in cash.

1978

- The expansion of Soda Ash capacity from 3,60,000 to 5,00,000 tonnes per annum was completed.

1982

- The Comp. proposed to take up production of phosphatic fertilizer through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tata Fertilisers, limited at a complex planned to be set up at Babrala in U.P. The Comp. subscribed to an initial amount of Rs 30 crores in the shares capital of Tata Fertilisers, Ltd.

- 30,00,000 equity shares [prem. Rs 10 per shares] & 36 shares [prem. Rs 2 per shares] allotted to 13.5% & 10.5% convertible bond holders respectively.

1983

- The Comp. issued 13.5% secured rights convertible bonds of Rs 100 each aggregating Rs 30 crores. Out of this, Rs 26.27 crores were issued to equity shareholders in the proportion of one bond for every four equity shares held & the balance of Rs 3.73 crores was issued to employees, associates, friends, preference shareholders & deposit holders. An amount of Rs 20 per bond was compulsorily and automatically convertible into one equity share on 1.11.1983. The portion of Rs 40 each are redeemable at the end of 10 years. However, these bond holders were given the right to apply for one equity share for every part of Rs 40 upon payment of Rs 40 in cash separately during 1st November, 1984 & 30th April, 1988.

- The Comp. formed a 100% investment subsidiary, with a paid-up capital of Rs 20 lakhs, in the name & style of General Investment & Trading Comp. Private Ltd.

1984

- The Comp. made a rights issue of 15% non-convertible debentures of the face value of Rs 35 crores to meet a part of capital expenditure on various schemes of modernisation & rehabilition. The issue was oversubscribed & the CCI accorded consent for Company to retain a further amount of Rs 17.5 crores. These are redeemable in three annual instalments commencing 9th May, 1992.

- The holders of 29,73,268 bonds of Rs 80 each applied for 59,46,536 equity shares. Out of these 18,69,739 shares were allotted with effect from 1st January, 1985 & the remaining 40,76,797 shares were allotted on 1st April, 1985. By appropriating the sale proceeds of `B' & `C' portions of these convertible bonds or receiving share amount and premium, the following equity shares were allotted at a premium of Rs 30 per shares: [is] 4,014 shares during 1986-87; [iis] 3,162 shares on 10th April, 1987; [iiis] 1,141 shares on 1st July, 1987, [ivs] 474 shares on 1st October, 1987 & [vs] 790 shares on 1st January, 1988.

1985

- The Comp. also issued 15% non-convertible debentures aggregating Rs 10 crores to the Unit Trust of India. These are redeemable at a premium of 5% on 19th August, 1992. The date of redemption was extented for a further period of 7 years at an enhanced rate of 19% per annum.

- 40,76,797 Equity shares [prem. Rs 30 per shares] allotted to 13.5% convertible bondholders. 77,69,096 bonus equity shares then issued in prop. 2:5.

1986

- Rehabilitation & upgradation of this unit was in progress. It continued to cater to the needs of expansion, modernisation and replacement programmes of chemical complex at Mithapur.

- The Comp. cancelled 59,970-7.14% cumulative [non-redeemables] preference shares & in lieu thereof allotted 15% secured redeemable non-convertible bonds of Rs 100 each at par. These bonds would be redeemable at par on 27.1.1999.

- Pref. shares cancelled by issuing 15% bonds in lieu. 4,014 equity shares allotted against `B' and C' Parts of 13.5% convertible bonds [prem. Rs 30 per shares] by receiving shares amount & prem. or through sale proceeds.

- The name was changed to Sabras Investment & Trading Co. Ltd.

1987

- Effective from 31st March, the Comp. ceased to be a subsidiary consequent upon an issue on a private & preferential basis of the equity & cumulative convertible preference [ccps] shares of face value of Rs 13.70 crores to the shareholders of Company.

- The Comp. issued 72,50,000-13.5% convertible debentures of face value of Rs 100 each for cash at par aggregating of face value of Rs 100 each for cash at par aggregating to Rs 72.50 crores. Of this, debenture worth Rs 67.97 crores were issued to the shareholders on rights basis in the proportion of 1 debenture for every 4 equity shares held, Rs 3.40 crores to the employees [including working directorss] and Rs 1.13 crores to NRI's. Including the retention of oversubscription the following debentures were allotted; [is] 84,96,250 debentures to shareholders; [iis] 3,64,035 debentures to employees including Indian working directors & [iiis] 1,41,250 debentures to NRI's.

- An amount of Rs 40 out of face value of each debenture of Rs 100 was automatically converted into 1 equity share of Rs 10 each at a premium of Rs 30 per share effective from 1st April. Accordingly 90,01,535 equity shares were issued to the holders of 13.5% debentures. The holders of balance Rs 60 portion were given option to seek for allotment of 1 equity share at a premium of Rs 50 per share on payment of cash between 1st October 1987 to 31st March 1998. Also, from 1st October 1987 upto the date of redemption [end of 7 year periods], the Comp. reserved to itself the right to repurchase at its discretion, the non-convertible portion of Rs 60 of face value of each debenture. By appropriating these sale proceeds of `B' portion of these convertible debenture or by receiving share amount & premium, the Comp. allotted 83,43,700 equity shares on 1st April 1988 and 3,58,381 equity shares on 25th October, 1988.

- On the 22nd May, a Memorandam of Understanding was signed between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., the Government & the Comp. for promotion of joint venture Comp. under the name & style of `Tata-Indian Oil Refineries Ltd.

1988

- The Steam power plant unit continued to perform fully well meeting the stream requirement of chemical complex, except for outage of one 13-MW turbo-generator causing power shortage for 4 months.

- The Process Equipment unit was substantially upgraded & reorganized and received approvals under `IBR' & Lloyds. The Process Equipment unit undertakes sophisticated fabrication job & manufactures heavy, sophisticated process equipment.

- As at 31st March, Tata Chemicals had accounted for Rs 52 crores in the CCP & Rs 8 crores in the equity shares of Company. A Scheme of Amalgamation of Tata Fertilisers, limited with the Comp. was approved by the Mumbai High Court on 7th September 1989.

- The Research & Development unit is oriented towards process improvement, project development, waste utilisation & environmental control, supporting production activities.

1989

- The Process Equipment division undertook equipment design and preparatory work to take up substantial fabrication of fertiliser plant being set up at Babrala.

- The Comp. issued 15,00,000-14% non-convertible debentures of Rs 100 each on private placement basis to financial institutions. These are redeemable at a premium of 5% on 26th October, 1996.

- The Comp. proposed to offer financial managerial & technical participation in the Rs 3,000 crore Haldia Petrochemicals Complex [HPLs], a huge green-field project. West Bengal Industries Development Corporation & Tata Tea, limited & its associates are the joint sector partners in the said complex.

- 42,49,864 shares allotted without payment in cash to members of Tata Fertilisers, limited on its merger.

1990

- The Comp. achieved self sufficiency in its requirements of Kurkutch salt-a basic raw material required for production of wide range of products. During the year, the Comp. proposed to introduce low-priced, high quality iodised Kurkutch salt.

- At the end of March, a new BHEL low-pressure turbo-generator was commissioned. The low-pressure turbo generator & the topper turbine suffered major prolonged outages.

- The Comp. signed the contract for supply of natural gas to the fertiliser project at Babrala with the Gas Authority of India, Ltd. The implementation of project remained slow due to non receipt of 'Deemed Export Status' despite several appeals made to the Finance Ministry & the long delay experienced in the receipt of bulk import licence.

- DGTD registration was received for manufacture of 1,50,000 TPA of unadulterated environmentally safe detergent materials.

- The Comp. undertaken to set up a cement plant at the existing chemical complex at Mithapur having a capacity of about 2,50,000 TPA of ordinary portland cement or 4,40,000 TPA of Pozzolana Portland cement. Budgetary offers for a wholly indigenous plant having a 900 TPD capacity was received & an application was made for an industrial licence.

- The Comp. offered 125,00,000 - 12.5% partly convertible debentures [PCDss] of Rs 150 each on Rights basis in the proportion 1 PCD: 6 equity shares held [all were taken ups]. Additional 18,75,000 debentures were allotted to retain oversubcription. Another 6,25,000-12.5% PCDs were issued to employees of Comp. [including Indian working Directorss]/workers on an equitable basis. [All were taken ups].

- Rs. 50 [Part `A's] of face value of each debenture was to be automatically & compulsorily converted into one equity share of Rs 10 each at a premium of Rs 40 per share on 1st August 1992. Accordingly 150,00,000 equity shares were allotted.

- Rs. 50 [Part `B's] of face value of each debenture was to be automatically & compulsorily converted into one equity share of Rs 10 each. Accordingly 150,00,000 equity shares were allotted for cash at par during 1992-93. The remaining Rs. 50 of face value of each debenture was to be redeemed at the end of 10 years from the date of allotment of debentures with an option to the Comp. to redeem the same in whole or in parts at any time after 7 years from the date of allotment along with the residual portion, if any, of part `B' above.

- The Comp. also offered 123,00,000 - 14% non-convertible debentures [NCDs] of Rs 100 each on Rights basis in the proportion 1 NCD:6 equity shares held [all were taken ups]. These debentures were to be redeemed on expiry of 7 years from the date of allotment of debentures at a premium of 5% of 10th January, 1998.

- The Comp. issued 46,00,000 - 12.5% Partly Convertible Debentures [PCDss] of Rs 175 each of which the following debentures were reserved for allotment on a preferential basis: [is] 22,00,000 PCDs to shareholders of Comp. [all were taken ups] & [iis] 2,30,000 PCDs to employees [including working directorss]/workers on an equitable basis [only 275 debentures taken ups]. The balance 21,70,000 PCDs, along with 2,29,725 PCDs not taken up by employees, were offered for public subscription [all were taken ups].

- Rs 50 [Part `A's] of face value of each debenture was to be automatically & compulsorily converted into 1 equity share of Rs. 10 each at a premium of Rs 40 per share. Accordingly 46,00,000 equity shares were allotted on 1st August 1992.

- Rs 50 [Part `B's] of face value of each debenture was to be automatically & compulsorily converted into 1 equity share of Rs 10 each at the end of 30 months from the date of allotment of debentures. Accordingly 46,00,000 equity shares were allotted during 1992-93.

- Rs 75 of face value of each debenture was to be redeemed at par at the end of 10 years from the date of allotment of debentures with an option to the Comp. to redeem the same in whole or in parts at any time after 7 years from the date of allotment, along with residual portion, if any, of part `B' above.

- 245,84,279 bonus shares allotted on 1.10.1990 in prop. 1:2.

1991

- A major replacement job was undertaken at CEHP boiler No. 1 which was completed in a record time of 15 days.

- During 1991-92, it was proposed to give consent to the termination of MOU & leave IOC had expressed the desire to do so despite the withdrawal of Soviets & substantial cost escalations.

- The last quarter of 1991, hurdles such as grant of deemed export house status for indigenous manufactures, allocation of foreign exchange etc., were resolved.

1992

- During the year, a modern circo-fluid high pressure boiler having a capacity of 200 TPH steam & a 16 MWT lopping turbo generator set together form a co-generation systems were being installed. The Company commission the circo-fluid boiler & 16 MW topping turbo generator by 1994.

- The Comp. proposed to add a new circulating fluidised bed boilder and topper turbine to the stream power plant for generation of additional steam & power.

1993

- Rs 320 crores Mithapur Vikas Plan project made headway with the construction of new boiler & turbine. Equipments were being added in a phased manner to the soda ash plant & production capacity is started to increase from 7 lakh TPA to 10 lakh TPA over the next 33 years.

1994

- The fertiliser project at Babrala commissioned in December.

- The Comp. entered into a sales agreement with Rallis India Ltd. for distribution & sales of urea from Babrala to Punjab, Haryana, U.P. & Rajasthan.

1995

- A new Circo Fluid boiler & a new 16.5 MW turbo generator set was commissioned. However, the steam-power position remained below expectation due to the teething problems in the initial stages & a fire which damaged the turbine casing.

- The testing of new boiler & turbine were started during March, and the co-generation of power plant was commissioned in May. Equipments were added to the soda ash plant to increase production capacity to one million tonnes per year.

- In order to meet increasing demand of Urea, the Comp. proposed to double the production capacity of Fertiliser complex at Babrala.

- 67,771,703 bonus equity shares allotted in prop. 3:5.

1996

- The gradual increase in soda ash capacity to one million tonnes per year was continuing. The installation of new Dense ash plant & the expansion of Sodium Bicarbonate was expected to be commissioned by September 1997.

1997

- Tata salt recorded a market share of 32% in the branded, iodized salt market maintaining a Comp. leadership position.

- 40 Tata Kisan Kendras were being set up to provide a complete package of agricultural inputs & impart knowledge & training of improved farm practices to farmers.

- Tata Chemicals Ltd [TCLs] has shelved its expansion project of setting up another urea plant with a capacity of 7.26 lakh tonnes per annum adjacent to its existing unit.

- Tata Chemicals may buy-out the loss-making new fertiliser plant of Sanderson Industries Ltd in Jamshedpur, which sources coke-oven waste from Tisco as its base raw material.

1998

- Tata Chemicals has decided to double its cement capacity to 8,00,000 per annum from 4,00,000 tpa at an investment of Rs.300 crore, to increase capacity of soda ash from 7.5 lakh tpa to 8.5 lakh tpa at a cost of Rs.40 crore & to foray into importing & marketing of Liquified Natural Gas [LNGs] along with a consortium of Indian fertiliser companies.

- The Comp. is diversifying into power generation by generating wind energy at its 37,000 acre site at Mithapur in Gujarat.

- The Comp. has proposed amendments in its articles of association for share buyback, issuing of shares without voting rights, dematerialisation of securities & introduction of employee stock option scheme.

- 86,320 shares forfeited.

1999

- The company very recent launch is `Rakshak' detergent powder which is currently available at an introductory price of Rs 19 per kg as against the maximum retail price of Rs 22. The launch of Rakshak follows the quiet entry of `Shudh' detergent powder, which was launched a year ago, & is currently priced at Rs 36 for same volume.

2000

- The board of directors has approved a proposal to merge with the company wholly-owned subsidiary, Sabras Investments & Trading Co. Ltd.

- Prasad R. Menon has been appointed as a new Managing Director of the company.

- Tata Chemicals limited will be merging investment subsidiary Sabras Investment and Trading Co. limited with itself.

- Tata Chemicals president R K Kaul has decided to step down from the helm of company, effective 15th October.

- Fertiliser major Tata Chemicals has decided to exit its detergents business, which has a single brand Shudh, & is in talks with potential buyers to sell it.

2001

- Tata Chemicals Ltd is in talks with Gujarat Ambuja Cement for selling off its cement unit at Mithapur, Gujarat.

- A major fire broke out at the Tata Chemicals limited plant at Mithapur gutting a portion of inorganic chemical plant. The Plant resumed production on March 24.

2002

- Tata Chemicals Ltd has informed BSE that Mr.Sunil Wadhwa has been re-designated as Chief Financial Officer & Comp. Secretary of the company.

-Tata Chemicals Ltd has informed BSE that Mr P K Ghose has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Comp. with effect from November 1, 2002.

-Tata Chemicals Ltd has informed that the Board has taken a note of resignation of Mr Arvind N Lalbhai from the Directorship of Company.

2003

-Tata Chemicals & HLL have cleared an exchange ratio at 2.5:1 for amalgamation.

-Tata Chemicals wins a decade long Rs.400cr tax dispute, with the Supreme court rejecting the demand of income-tax department.

-Tata chem has informed that ICRA has assigned LAA+ rating to the company proposed Rs.1250million Non-Convertible Debenture Programme.

-Tata Chemicals has availed of $20 million ECB at an interest rate 100 basis points above the London Inter Bank Offer Rate[LIBORs] for three years.

2004

-Tata Chemicals picks up gas from Petronet LNG

-Tata Chemicals Ltd has appointed Mr Homi Khusrokhan as an Executive Director of company

- The merger of Hind Lever Chemicals Ltd with Tata Chemicals Ltd came into effect on June 1. Consequent to the orders of High Court of Judicature, Mumbai, & the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, sanctioning the Scheme of Amalgamation of Hind Lever Chemicals with Tata Chemicals, Hind Lever Chemicals has merged with Tata Chemicals, effective from June 1, 2004.

2005

-Tata Chemicals launches 'Tata Kisan Sansar' in West Bengal & Jharkhand

2006

-Tata Chemicals picks up ICMA excellence award

-Tata Chemicals Ltd on October 13, 2006 has announced the appointment of Mr. Homi Khusrokhan as Managing Director with effect from October 16, 2006.

- Tata Chemicals limited has informed that Mr. Prasad R. Menon has been appointed as an additional director on the Board of Company, with effect from October 30, 2006. Mr. Prasad R. -Tata Chemicals Ltd has appointed Mr. Prasad R Menon as an Additional Director on the Board of Company,

2008

-Tata Chemicals Ltd has informed that Dr. M S Ananth, Director, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, has been appointed as an Additional Director on the Board of Comp. with effect from April 03, 2008.

-Tata Chemicals Ltd has informed that Mr. Arun Maira, an international Management Consultant, has been appointed as an Additional Director on the Board of Comp. with effect from September 25, 2008.